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First    Vastier     u  I'     (' hu  r  I  t'StiTw  ri    ,&   Elislnii 


THE 


HISTORY 


FIRST   CHURCH,   CHARLESTOWN, 


IN  NINE  LECTURES,  WITH  NOTES. 


BY  WIllIAM  I.  BUDINGTON, 

rASTOK     OF      THE     CHURCH. 


God  of  our  fathers  1  while  our  ears 

Shall  hear  the  chronicles  of  old— 
Thy  wondrous  deeds  in  ancient  years, 

Which  sires  unto  their  sons  have  told ; — 
May  we  their  spirit  catch,  and  give 

Ourselves,  anew,  to  Truth  and  Thee  ; 
And,  like  those  worthies,  dare  to  live 

Frsemen  in  Christ,  the  only  Free  !" 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED   BY    CHARLES    TAPPAN. 

1845. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1845, 

By  William  I.  Budington, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


Press  of  T.  R.  Marvin. 


THIS   VOLUME 

IS 

RESPECTFULLY     DEDICATED 

TO   THE 

FIRST   CHURCH  AND  CONGREGATION  IN   CHARLESTOWN, 

BV    THEIR 

FRIEND   AND    PASTOR, 

THE    AUTHOR. 


PREFACE. 


The  following  Discourses  were  prepared  in  the  ordi- 
nary course  of  mj  ministry,  and  delivered  at  a  stated 
monthly  lecture  during  the  winter  of  1842-3.  It  was 
originally  my  intention  to  condense  the  facts  I  had 
gathered,  and  publish  them  in  a  small  manual ;  but 
having  delayed  the  execution  of  this  purpose  until  the 
commencement  of  the  present  year,  I  felt  unable  to  per- 
form the  work  of  re-composition,  and  obliged  to  publish 
either  what  I  had  written  or  nothing.  I  have  therefore 
revised  my  Lectures,  and  now  publish  them  substantially 
as  they  were  spoken,  with  a  body  of  notes  comprising 
the  additional  matter  collected  in  the  course  of  my 
investigations.  I  have  enjoyed  many  pleasant  hours, 
and  been  profited  by  many  solemn  reflections,  while 
engaged  in  my  historical  studies,  and  feel  that  I  have 
been  repaid  for  my  labor  ;  and  if  my  book  shall  have  a 
similar  moral  effect  upon  the  people  of  my  charge,  and 
such  others  as  shall  honor  it  with  a  perusal,  I  shall  be 
more  than  repaid. 

I  shall  always  remember  with  pleasure  the  courtesy 
and  kind  assistance  received  from  the  various  gentlemen 
whom  I  have  consulted  for  information  or  advice.  My 
grateful  acknowledgments  are  due  to  all  of  them,  and 


especially  to  Rev.  William  Jenks,  D.  D.,  and  Rev. 
Samuel  Sewall,  as  the  subsequent  pages  will  frequently 
show. 

It  will  be  unnecessary  for  me  here  to  enumerate  the 
sources  from  whence  my  history  is  derived,  as  these  will 
be  sufficiently  indicated  in  the  course  of  the  work  ;  it  is 
with  great  pleasure,  however,  that  I  confess  my  obliga- 
tions to  the  Hon.  James  Savage,  not  only  for  his  valuable 
illustrations  of  Winthrop,  which  have  thrown  so  much 
light  upon  our  early  history,  but  also  for  the  encouraging 
interest  and  assistance  he  has  afforded  me  in  my  labors. 
I  am  also  indebted  to  Richard  Frothingham,  Jr.,  Esq., 
for  valuable  information  afforded  by  his  minute  acquaint- 
ance with  the  antiquities  of  the  town  ;  and  trust  that  he 
will  be  amply  encouraged  in  the  publication  of  his 
*  History  of  Charlestown,'  on  which  he  is  now  engaged. 

The  likeness  of  Rev.  John  Wilson,  prefixed  to  the 
volume  as  a  frontispiece,  is  an  accurate  copy  of  a  portrait 
preserved  in  the  Rooms  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical 
Society. 

I  have  only  to  say  in  conclusion  to  those  of  my  friends 
who  have  been  looking  for  my  volume  for  several  months, 
that  the  delay  has  been  unavoidable,  and  has  arisen  in 
part  from  the  intrinsic  difficulty  of  carrying  a  work  of 
this  character  through  the  press,  and  in  part  from  the 
pressure  of  other  and  more  important  duties. 

Charlestown,  Dec.  8,  1845. 


CONTENTS. 


Page 
LECTURE  I .  .  .9 

Settlement  of  the  Town — Organization  of  the  Church  of  Boston  and  Charlestown — 
Formation  of  the  Charlestown  Church — Rev.  Thomas  James — The  Puritans. 

LECTURE  n. 31 

Original  Members  of  the  Church — Indians — Rev.  Zechariah  Symmes — Dismission 
of  Mr.  James — Synod  of  1637 — Rev.  John  Harvard— Rev.  Thomas  Allen — Synod  of 
1648— Elder  John  Greene — Description  of  Charlestown. 

LECTURE  III 64 

Rev.  Thomas  Shepard— The  Baptists— Synod  of  1662— The  Half-way  Covenant- 
Rev.  John  Oxenbridge — Mr.  Symmes. 

LECTURE  IV 71 

Mr.  Shepard's  Election  Sermon — His  death— Ecclesiastical  Council — Rev.  Thomas 
Shepard  the  third. 

LECTURE  V. 89 

Synod  of  1679-80  —  Mr.  Shepard's  ministry  and  death — Rev.  Charles  Morton. 

LECTURE  VI 106 

Mr.  Morton's  advice  to  Candidates  for  the  Ministry — His  death — Rev.  Simon  Brad- 
street — Rev.  Joseph  Stevens — Mrs.  Anne  Bradstreet. 

LECTURE  VII 121 

Mr.  Stevens's  death — His  character — Rev.  Hull  Abbot — Rev.  Thomas  Prentice — 
State  of  Religion — The  Great  Awakening. 

LECTURE  VIII 136 

Mr.  Abbot's  Artillery  Election  Sermon — His  death— Battle  of  Bunker  Hill — Death 
of  Mr.  Prentice — Rev.  Joshua  Paine. 

LECTURE  IX. 150 

Rev.  Dr.  Morse — Unitarianism — Benefactors  of  the  Church. 


NOTES 


Note  1.  Arrival  of  Winthrop, 

"      2.  Thomas  Walford,       . 

"       3.  Thomas  Graves, 

"      4.  Rev.  Francis  Bright, 

"      5.  Town  Records, 

"      6.  Organization  of  the  Church, 


165 
168 
168 
170 
171 
173 


Note  7. 


John  Winthrop, 

Thomas  Dudley, 

John  Wilson, 

William  Blackstone,  . 

Inhabitants  remaining  in  Charlestown, 

Mrs.  Wilson, 

Old  and  New  Style,   . 

The  Records  and  comparative  age  of  the  Church 

The  New  England  Version  of  the  Psalms, 

The  Spirit  of  the  Puritans, 

Increase  Nowell, 

Capt.  Richard  Sprague, 

List  of  Deacons, 

Meeting  House  and  Sabba'  Day  House, 

Thomas  James, 

Thomas  Allen, 

The  Cambridge  Platform, 

Thomas  Allen's  Letter  respecting  the  early 

Origin  of  the  Baptist  Church, 

Old  South  Church,     . 

Francis  Willoughby, 

Mr.  Symmes, 

Daniel  Russell,  .  . 

Seating  the  Meeting  House, 

Toleration,     .... 

Epitaph  of  Thomas  Shepard, 

Oakes's  Elegy, 

Letter  of  Hon  J.  Q  Adams, 

Letter  to  the  Old  South  Church, 

Shepard's  Manuscripts, 

Horsey's  Letter, 

Morton's  Publications, 

Mode  of  calling  and  settling  Ministers, 

Morton's  Latin  Epitaph, 

Charlestown  Lecture, 

Stevens's  Private  Records,    . 

Settlement  of  Mr.  Prentice,    . 

The  Earthquake, 

Abbot's  Family, 

Abbot's  Publications, 

Rev.  Thomas  Prentice, 

Meeting  House  Hill, 

Enlargement  of  the  Meeting  House, 

Formation  of  the  Parish, 

The  Tablet,    .... 

Installation  of  Rev.  Dr.  Morse, 

Harvard  and  Winthrop  Churches, 

Dr.  Morse,      .... 

Present  Meeting  House, 

Sacramental  Furniture, 

The  Russell  Family, 

Dea.  Frothingham  and  Dea.  Miller, 


Catalogue  of  Admissions  to  Full  Communion, 
Index,     ....... 


" 

9. 

li 

10. 

11 

11. 

11 

12. 

" 

13. 

II 

14. 

" 

15. 

II 

16. 

II 

17. 

II 

18. 

It 

19. 

11 

20. 

II 

21. 

II 

22. 

II 

23. 

" 

24. 

II 

25. 

II 

26. 

11 

27. 

11 

28. 

II 

29. 

II 

30. 

II 

31. 

II 

32. 

II 

33. 

II 

34. 

II 

35. 

II 

36. 

II 

37. 

II 

38. 

li 

39. 

II 

40. 

« 

41. 

II 

42. 

It 

43. 

It 

44. 

It 

45. 

It 

46. 

II 

47. 

It 

48. 

It 

49. 

II 

50. 

It 

51. 

It 

62. 

It 

63. 

II 

54. 

" 

65. 

tt 

66. 

" 

57. 

" 

58. 

Indian  Missions 


HISTOKY  OF   THE   CHURCH. 


LECTURE    I. 

Psalm  xliv.   1  —  3. 

We  have  heard  with  our  ears,  O  God  !  Our  fathers  have  told  us,  what 
wore;  thou  didst  in  their  days,  in  the  times  of  old.    How  thou  didst 

DRIVE  out  the  heathen  WITH  THY  HAND,  AND  PLANTEDST  THEM;  HOW  THOU 
DIDST  AFFLICT  THE  PEOPLE,  AND  CAST  THEM  OUT.  FoR  THEY  GOT  NOT  THE 
LAND  IN  POSSESSION  BY  THEIR  OWN  SWORD,  NEITHER  DID  THEIR  OWN  ARM 
SAVE  THEM  :  BUT  THY  RIGHT  HAND,  AND  THINE  ARM,  AND  THE  LIGHT  OF  THY 
COUNTENANCE,   BECAUSE   THOU    HADST   A    FAVOR    UNTO    THEM. 

There  are  few  pursuits  more  pleasant  and  profitable  than 
the  study  of  History.  We  constitute  a  link  which  unites  the 
past  with  the  future,  and  we  cannot  fully  understand  our 
responsibilities,  as  we  certainly  cannot  appreciate  our  advan- 
tages, without  some  acquaintance  with  the  condition  and 
services  of  past  generations.  As  Christians,  it  is  our  first  duty 
and  principal  happiness  to  know  God ;  and  to  do  this  we  must 
examine  his  Providence  as  well  as  his  Word,  The  command 
of  God  to  his  ancient  people  was,  "  Remember  the  days  of  old, 
consider  the  years  of  many  generations  ;  ask  thy  father — and 
he  will  show  thee  ;  thy  elders — and  they  will  tell  thee."  Deut. 
xxxii.  7.  And  accordingly  he  instituted  anniversaries  and 
festivals  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  his  dealings  with  their 
fathers  from  generation  to  generation. 

The  believer  in  the  providence  of  God,  will  find  signal  mani- 
festations of  it,  in  the  successful  planting  of  our  Pilgrim  Fathers 
on  these  shores.  "  The  Shepherd  of  Israel,  he  that  led  Joseph 
like  a  flock,  by  the  hand  of  Moses  and  Aaron,"  guided  our 
fathers  over  the  waters,  and  gave  them  in  possession  "  this 
goodly  heritage."  If  it  be  instructive  therefore  to  study  the 
history  of  ancient  Israel,  it  cannot  be  otherwise  to  contemplate 
2 


10 

the  dealings  of  the  same  God  with  his  chosen  people  of  New 
England.  And  while  we  are  pursuing  the  history  of  our 
Church  for  more  than  two  centuries,  I  trust  we  shall  find  it 
profitable  to  converse  with  the  pious  dead,  '  into  whose  labors 
we  are  entered,'  and  whose  names  deserve  to  be  held  in  lasting 
honor,  as  well  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  as  the  members 
of  the  church.  In  giving  a  history  of  this  church,  we  must 
begin  with  the  settlement  of  the  town. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  June,  1630,^  that  Winthrop,  the 
Father  of  Massachusetts,  first  trod  our  soil.  The  Arbella,  in 
which  he  had  crossed  the  Atlantic,  arrived  at  Salem  on  the 
12th  of  the  month  ;  and  by  the  beginning  of  July  the  whole 
fleet  had  arrived,  and  the  colonists  began  a  permanent  settle- 
ment in  this  place.  But  Winthrop  and  his  companions  were 
not  the  first  settlers  here.  Two  years  before,  in  the  summer 
of  1628,^  Ralph  Sprague,  with  his  brothers  Richard  and 
William,  together  with  three  or  four  more,  undertook  a  journey 
from  Salem,  and  after  travelling  to  the  westward  through  the 
woods  about  twelve  miles,  they  lighted  upon  this  place.  ''  Upon 
surveying,"  our  town  records  say,  "  they  found  it  was  a  neck 
of  land,  generally  full  of  stately  timber,  and  the  country  round 
about  an  uncouth  wilderness."  This  peninsula  was  at  that 
time  full  of  Indians,  who  bore  the  pleasing  name  of  Aberginians, 
and  whose  chief  John  Sagamore  gave  the  new  comers,  "  a  free 
consent  to  settle  about  this  hill." 

But  the  Spragues  again  were  not  the  first  occupants  of  the 
soil,  for  they  found  here  a  single  individual  living  alone,^ 
Thomas  Walford  by  name,  a  smith, — he  occupied  a  house,  that 
was  "  thacht  and  palisadoed,"  and  situated  on  the  southern 
slope  of  this  hill,  a  "little  way  up  from  the  side  of  Charles 
River."  Thomas  Walford,  therefore,  was  the  first  white 
inhabitant  of  this  soil. 

The  following  year,  in  June,  1629,"^  Mr.  Thomas  Graves,^ 
an  experienced  engineer,  came  from  Salem,  with  about  100  of 
the  Company's  servants,  and  began  to  make  preparation  for 
the  arrival  of  the  colonists.  He  found  here  ten  inhabitants 
including  the  four  already  mentioned  ,•  and  these,  together  with 

»  See  Note  1.  *  Princess  Chrou   p.  261. 

*  I'rince's  Chronology,  an  J  Town  Records         ^  Note  3. 
3  Ncte  2. 


II 

the  Rev.  Thomas  Bright,^  minister  to  the  Company's  servants, 
are  spoken  of  in  our  town  records  as  being  the  first  who 
settled  in  this  place,  and  brought  it  into  the  denomination  of 
an  English  town. 

Mr.  Graves  built  for  the  use  of  the  Company,  who  were 
shortly  to  come  over,  a  large  house  called  "  the  Great  House," 
which  afterwards  became  the  first  meeting-house  of  this  church. 
He  also  laid  out  the  streets  around  the  Town  Hill,  and  meas- 
ured out  to  each  inhabitant  a  two  acre  lot,  after  which  they 
began  to  build  their  houses  and  prepare  their  fences.  It  was 
also  agreed  upon  to  change  the  name  of  the  place  from  Misha- 
wum,  by  which  it  was  known  among  the  Indians,  to  Charles- 
town.^  But  it  is  not  my  design  to  give  an  account  of  the 
settlement  of  the  town  ;  this  has  already  been  done  by  a  gen- 
tleman,^ who  is  preparing  a  History  of  the  Town,  in  a  manner 
that  will  leave  nothing  to  be  desired  on  this  subject. 

Such  is  a  brief  outline  of  the  transactions  which  had  taken 
place  on  this  soil,  when  Winthrop  landed  with  his  company. 
We  shall  be  enabled  by  it  to  form  some  idea  of  the  welcome 
that  awaited  them  on  their  arrival.  They  were  about  1,500 
in  number,  and  the  spot  which  they  were  to  make  their  home 
must  have  looked  dreary  indeed.  It  was  wearing  its  primitive 
and  savage  appearance,  except  in  the  immediate  neighborhood 
of  this  hill.  The  primeval  forest  of  oak  trees,  which  had  for 
unrecorded  ages  covered  the  peninsula,  was  still  casting  its 
shadows  around  them,  except  where  the  axe  of  Walford  and 
the  Spragues  had  let  the  sun  in  upon  this  eminence.  The 
Governor  and  some  of  the  patentees  were  accommodated  in 
the  Great  House ;  but  no  hospitalities  were  or  could  have  been 
aff'orded  to  the  great  majority.  They  accordingly  erected 
booths  and  tents  of  cloth  about  the  hill,  and  laid  themselves 
down  upon  the  cold  and  dewy  ground  to  sleep.  They  had  had 
a  long  passage  over  the  Atlantic  ;  some  of  the  ships  were  seven- 
teen, and  some  eighteen  weeks,  in  coming.  But  the  hearts  of 
the  Pilgrims  were  so  rejoiced  by  the  safe  arrival  of  their  fleet, 
that  the  8th  of  July  was  set  apart  by  general  consent  both  here 
and  at  Salem,  as  a  day  of  thanksgiving  to  God.  And  now, 
forgetting  their  past  trials,  and  their  present  destitute  condition, 

>  JVote  4.  2  Note  5.  '  Richard  Frothingham,  Jr.,  Esq. 


12 

they  had  both  time  and  heart  for  the  expression  and  cultivation 
of  gratitude.  We  look  back  over  the  lapse  of  more  than  two 
hundred  years,  and  as  we  behold  this  trusting  and  rejoicing 
band  of  Pilgrims  upon  this  hill,  on  the  8th  July,  1630,  we  feel 
that  the  beautiful  stanzas  of  Mrs.  Hemans  are  not  more  true 
to  feeling  than  to  history. 

"  Not  as  the  conquerer  comes, 

They  the  true-hearted  came. 
Not  with  the  roll  of  the  stirriug  drums. 

And  the  trumpet  that  sings  of  fame  ; 
Not  as  the  flying  come. 

In  silence  and  in  fear, — 
They  shook  the  depths  of  the  desert's  gloom 

With  their  hymns  of  lofty  cheer. 

Amidst  the  storm  they  sang. 

And  the  stars  heard  and  the  sea  ! 
And  the  sounding  aisles  of  the  dim  woods  rang 

To  the  anthem  of  the  free ! 
There  were  men  with  hoary  hair, 

Amidst  that  pilgrim  band — 
Why  had  they  come  to  wither  there. 

Away  from  their  childhood's  land  ? 

There  was  woman's  fearless  eye. 

Lit  by  her  deep  love's  truth  ; 
There  was  manhood's  brow  serenely  high. 

And  the  fiery  heart  of  youth. 
What  sought  they  thus  afar  ? 

Bright  jewels  of  the  mine? 
The  wealth  of  seas,  the  spoils  of  war? 

— They  sought  a  faith's  pure  shrine ! 

Ay,  call  it  holy  ground, 

The  soil  where  first  they  trod  ! 
They  have  left  unstain'd  what  there  they  found — 

Freedom  to  worship  God !  " 

But  a  wild  and  savage  home  was  not  the  only  welcome  of 
the  Pilgrims.  They  disembarked  from  their  vessels,  many  of 
them  sick  from  long  confinement  on  ship-board,  and  their 
sickness  was  greatly  aggravated  by  their  lodgings  on  the  damp 
ground,  and  want  of  protection  against  the  weather. 

"  And  although,"  say  our  town  records,  "  the  people  were 
loving  and  pitiful,  yet  the  sickness  did  so  prevail,  that  the 
whole  were  not  able  to  tend  the  sick  as  they  should  be  tended, 
upon  which  many  perished  and  died,  and  were  buried  about 


13 

the  Town  Hill."  And  thus  the  first  spot  they  made  their 
home,  became  to  many  of  them  their  grave. 

To  add  to  their  distress,  their  provisions  were  growing 
scarce.  Much  of  their  supplies  had  been  damaged  during  the 
voyage ;  much  wasted  in  consequence  of  the  prevailing  sick- 
ness ;  many  had  neglected  to  make  adequate  supplies,  owing 
to  a  report  which  prevailed  in  England  when  they  left,  that 
there  was  now  abundance  in  New  England  ;  and  besides  this, 
the  season  was  so  far  advanced,  that  they  could  expect  nothing 
from  planting.  Under  these  circumstances  the  Governor 
despatched  Capt.  William  Pearce,  with  a  ship  of  200  tons,  to 
the  coast  of  Ireland  to  purchase  provisions. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  estimate  the  discouraging  effect  which 
these  things  had  upon  the  minds  of  the  people.  Leaving  as 
they  did  an  old  and  populous  country  like  England,  where 
they  had  been  accustomed  to  the  unnumbered  conveniences 
which  are  the  result  of  the  labor  of  many  generations,  and 
which  we  learn  to  appreciate  only  when  deprived  of  them, 
they  must  have  been  in  a  great  measure  unconscious  of  what 
awaited  them  here,  and  but  poorly  prepared,  saving  in  faith 
and  patience,  for  the  hardships  of  a  settlement  in  the  wilder- 
ness. The  sufferings  endured  by  the  earliest  emigrants  to  the 
new  lands  of  the  West,  may  give  us  some  idea  of  the  nature 
of  the  privations  to  which  our  fathers  were  subjected,  but  not 
of  the  number  and  magnitude  of  their  sacrifices. 

These  distressing  circumstances,  however,  did  not  deter  the 
Pilgrims  from  organizing  a  church,  but  rather  hastened  the 
execution  of  their  purpose.^  The  30th  of  July  was  observed 
as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  and  after  appropriate  religious 
services.  Gov.  Winthrop,  Dep.  Gov.  Dudley,  Mr.  Isaac  Johnson, 
and  Rev.  John  Wilson,  subscribed  the  following  church  cov- 
enant. 

"  In  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  obedience  to 
his  holy,  wise,  and  divine  ordinances  : 

"  We,  whose  names  are  here  underwritten,  being  by  his 
most  wise  and  good  providence  brought  together  into  this  part 
of  America,  in  the  Bay  of  Massachusetts  ;  and  desirous  to  unite 
into  one  congregation  or  church,  under  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 

1  Note  6. 


14 

our  head,  in  such  sort  as  becometh  all  those  whom  he  hath 
redeemed,  and  sanctified  to  himself,  do  hereby  solemnly  and 
religiously,  as  in  his  most  holy  presence,  promise  and  bind 
ourselves  to  walk  in  all  our  ways  according  to  the  rule  of  the 
Gospel,  and  in  all  sincere  conformity  to  his  holy  ordinances, 
and  in  mutual  love  and  respect  to  each  other,  so  near  as  God 
shall  give  us  grace." 

Of  the  four  highly  distinguished  individuals  who  entered 
first  into  this  covenant,  it  is  unnecessary  that  I  should  say 
much  ;  they  were  not  only  the  founders  of  the  Church,  but 
also  of  the  Commonwealth,  and  their  history  is  inseparably 
united  with  that  of  Massachusetts. 

John  Winthrop,  the  first  Governor  of  Massachusetts,  and  the 
first  who  signed  the  church  covenant,  was  descended  of  respect- 
able ancestors,  who  were  distinguished  for  learning  as  well  as 
attachment  to  the  reformed  religion  under  the  reign  of  Henry 
VIII.  and  dueen  Mary.  He  received  an  accomplished  legal 
•education,  and  was  possessed  of  a  large  estate  of  6  or  £700 
per  annum,  the  whole  of  which  he  invested  in  the  settlement 
of  New  England.  He  was  highly  esteemed  and  greatly  be- 
loved by  his  cotemporaries  ;  and  he  will  never  cease  to  be 
reverenced  and  admired  by  the  sons  of  New  England  for  his 
honor,  generosity,  and  Christian  principle.  When  he  removed 
from  England  he  was  about  forty-three  years  of  age.^ 

Thomas  Dudley,  the  Deputy  Governor,  had  served  under 
Ctueen  Elizabeth  as  a  soldier  in  France,  and  was  subsequently 
distinguished  for  his  prudent  management  of  the  large  estates 
of  the  Earl  of  Lincoln  ;  but  becoming  attached  to  the  Non- 
conforming interest,  he  came  to  this  country  in  the  54th  year 
of  his  age.  He  was  for  many  years  Deputy  Governor,  and 
was  at  length  chosen  Governor,  which  oiSice  he  sustained  four 
years.  ^ 

Isaac  Johnson,  Esq.,  the  third  subscriber,  was  a  gentleman 
of  great  amiableness,  and  enjoyed  in  an  eminent  degree  the 
confidence  and  affection  of  the  people.  He  was  possessed  of  a 
considerable  fortune,  and  had  married  the  Lady  Arbella,  a 
daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Lincoln. 

The  Rev.  John  Wilson,   the   first  pastor  of  the  Church,  was 

1  Note  7.  *  Note  8. 


15 

one  of  the  most  humble,  pious  and  benevolent  men  of  the  age. 
His  ancestors  had  been  eminent  in  the  Church  of  England. 
His  father  was  a  clergyman  of  distinguished  rank  in  the  reign 
of  Elizabeth,  and  by  his  mother  he  was  related  to  Dr.  Grindal, 
the  excellent  Archbishop  of  Canterbury.^ 

On  the  1st  August,  Increase  Nowell,  Esq.  and  four  others 
united  with  the  church,  and  signed  the  covenant,  and  soon  their 
number  amounted  to  sixty-four  men,  and  half  as  many  women. 

On  the  23d  August,^  the  first  General  Court,  or  Court  of 
Assistants  as  it  was  then  called,  was  held, — probably  in  the 
Great  House.  The  record  of  that  meeting  is  interesting,  as 
an  exhibition  of  the  spirit  of  the  colonists.  Religion  was  the 
object  of  their  first  solicitude,  while  as  yet  they  had  their 
houses  to  build,  and  means  to  provide  of  subsistence  for  the 
approaching  winter,  and  of  defence  against  savage  enemies. 
The  first  question  proposed  was,  how  the  ministers  should  be 
maintained  ?  And  it  was  ordered  that  houses  be  built  for 
them  with  convenient  speed,  at  the  public  charge  ; — Sir  Rich- 
ard Saltonstall  undertaking  to  see  it  done  for  Mr.  Phillips  at 
Watertown,  and  the  Governor  at  this  place  for  Mr.  Wilson. 
In  addition  to  this,  their  salaries  were  fixed  at  £30  a  year. 

On  the  27th  August,^  another  fast  was  observed,  and  the 
church  duly  organized  by  the  appointment  of  the  proper  ofii- 
cers ;  these  were  a  Teacher,  Pastor,  Ruling  Elder,  and  Deacons. 
To  define  the  duties  assigned  to  each  as  briefly  as  possible  ; 
the  province  of  the  teacher  was  to  explain  and  defend  the 
doctrines  of  Scripture, — that  of  the  pastor  was  to  exhort  and 
apply  the  precepts  of  Scripture  to  practice, — the  ruling  elder 
was  to  attend  to  the  discipline  of  the  church,  and  the  duties  of 
the  deacons  were  substantially  then  what  they  now  are. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  chosen  teacher,  Mr.  Nowell  ruling  elder,  and 
Messrs.  Gager  and  Aspinwall  deacons.  These  were  all  several- 
ly set  apart  to  their  ofiices  by  the  imposition  of  hands  ;  with 
the  explicit  statement  and  understanding,  however,  that  it  did 
not  imply,  so  far  as  Mr.  Wilson  was  concerned,  the  renunci- 
ation of  the  ordination  he  had  received  in  England.^ 

Thus  was  organized  the  third  church  in  New  England, — 
a  society  which  became   th^  fountain-head  ofTnfluence — and 

*  Note  9.  *  Prince's  Chron.  '  Winthrop's  Journal. 


16 

an  object  of  profound  reverence  and  affection.  Its  officers  and 
members  were  the  leading  men  of  the  colony.  "Some  have 
been  heard  to  say,"  says  Hubbard,  "they  believed  it  to  be  the 
most  glorious  church  m  the  world."  ^ 

In  the  month  of  August  many  of  the  colonists  removed 
across  the  river,  and  in  a  short  time  the  Governor  and  a 
majority  of  the  inhabitants  were  residing  on  the  other  side  of 
Charles  river.  The  principal  cause  which  led  to  this  removal, 
was  the  want  of  running  springs  of  water.  The  notion  pre- 
vailed that  "  no  water  was  good  for  a  town  but  running 
springs."  ^  and  they  were  at  that  time  acquainted  with  but  one 
spring  in  this  place,  which,  being  situated  in  the  sand,  along 
the  margin  of  Charles  river,  was  for  the  most  part  brackish, 
and  inadequate  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  people.  At  this 
juncture  Mr.  William  Blackstone,^  who  was  then  living  alone 
in  a  cottage  on  the  Boston  side,  acquainted  the  Governor  with 
the  existence  of  an  excellent  spring  on  that  side  and  solicited 
him  to  remove  thither.  In  addition  to  this,  the  sickness  of  the 
people  still  continued,  and  numbers  were  dying,  and  by  many 
this  was  attributed  to  the  unhealthiness  of  the  place. 

Mr.  Gager,  the  newly  appointed  deacon,  died  on  the  1st  of 
September,  of  a  fever.  He  is  spoken  of  by  Governor  Dudley, 
as  "a  right  godly  man,  and  skilful  chirurgeon."  But  the  spirits 
of  the  Pilgrims  were  especially  affected  by  the  death  of  Mr. 
Isaac  Johnson,  which  took  place  on  the  30th  of  September. 
He  was  so  highly  esteemed  by  the  people,  that  his  death  was 
looked  upon  by  many  as  almost  involving  the  failure  of  their 
undertaking. 

There  are  few  passages  in  the  early  history  of  New  England 
more  affecting  than  the  death  of  the  Lady  Arbella  and  her  de- 
voted husband.  "  She  came,"  says  Hubbard,  "from  a  paradise 
of  pleasure  and  plenty,  in  the  family  of  a  noble  Earl,  into  a  wil- 
derness of  wants,  and  although  celebrated  for  her  many  virtues, 
was  unable  to  stem  the  tide  of  adversities  she  saw  herself 
surrounded  with,  and  in  about  a  month  after  her  arrival,  she 
ended  her  days  at  Salem,  where  she  first  landed."  It  were 
hard  to  add,  as  he  does,  that  she  was  "  one  who  possibly  had  not 
taken  the  counsel  of  our  Saviour,  to  sit  down  and  think  what 

'  Hubb.  Hist.  p.  280.  2  Town  Records.  ^  iNote  10. 


17 

the  cost  would  be  before  she  began  to  build."  Sadly  and 
solemnly  did  the  Fathers  surround  her  grave  ;  and  it  was 
only  a  month  after,  that  they  made  a  grave  for  her  sorrowful 
husband,  on  the  upper  end  of  his  lot  in  Boston,  which 
extended  to  what  is  now  Tremont  street.  He  died  "  in  sweet 
peace," — rejoicing  that  he  had  seen  the  church  of  Christ  gath- 
ered before  his  death.  The  spot  where  he  was  laid  became 
holy  ground — the  first  burying  place  of  the  Pilgrims — and  as 
they  died  they  requested  that  their  bodies  might  be  laid  beside 
his.  This  is  the  burying  place  which  adjoins  the  Stone 
Chapel. 

"The  grief  of  this  people  was  further  increased,"  says  John- 
son, "  by  the  sore  sickness  which  befel  amongst  them,  so  that 
almost  in  every  family,  lamentation,  mourning,  and  woe  was 
heard,  and  no  fresh  food  to  be  had  to  cherish  them,  it  would 
surely  have  moved  the  most  lockt  up  affections  to  tears  no 
doubt,  had  they  passed  from  one  hut  to  another,  and  beheld 
the  piteous  case  these  people  were  in."  ^  The  mortality  from 
which  they  suffered  may  be  judged  of,  from  the  estimate  they 
have  left  us  that  two  hundred  at  least  died  between  the  time 
of  their  setting  sail  from  England  in  April  and  the  month  of 
December  following.- 

Under  these  circumstances  of  deep  affliction  and  severe 
depression.  Governor  Winthrop  maintained  a  lofty  courage,  and 
bore  up  the  sinking  hopes  of  the  colony.  In  a  letter  which  he 
wrote  at  this  time  (September  9,)  to  his  wife,  after  announcing 
the  death  of  the  Lady  Arbella,  and  good  Mr.  Higginson,  and 
expressing  his  confidence  in  God,  he  thus  writes,  "  I  thank 
God  I  like  so  well  to  be  here,  as  I  do  not  repent  my  coming  ; 
and  if  I  were  to  come  again,  I  would  not  have  altered  my 
course,  though  I  had  foreseen  all  these  afflictions.  I  never  fared 
better  in  my  life,  never  slept  better,  never  had  more  content  of 
mind,  which  comes  merely  of  the  Lord's  good  hand ;  for  we 
have  not  the  like  means  of  these  comforts  here,  which  we  had 
in  England.  But  the  Lord  is  all  sufficient,  blessed  be  his  holy 
name.  If  he  please  he  can  still  uphold  us  in  this  estate  ;  but 
if  he  shall  see  good  to  make  us  partakers  with  others  in  more 


'  Johnson's  Wond.  Work.  Prov.  ch.  xvii. 

2  Gov.  Dudley's  Letter,  Hist.  Coll.  1st  ser.  viii.  41. 

3 


18 

affliction,  his  will  be  done.     He  is  our  God,  and  may  dispose 
us  as  he  sees  good  !  " 

It  was  in  the  month  of  November  that  the  Governor,  Deputy 
Governor,  and  all  the  Assistants  except  Mr.  Nowell  removed 
their  families  to  Boston.  The  frame  of  the  Governor's  house 
had  already  been  cut,  and  was  about  to  be  erected,  but  it  was 
carried  over  to  Boston.^ 

After  this,  for  a  period  of  two  years,  the  inhabitants  of 
Charlestown,  were  "constrained  to  go  to  Boston  on  the  Lord's 
day  to  hear  the  word,  and  enjoy  the  sacraments  before  they 
could  be  otherwise  supplied."^ 

The  winter  was  now  approaching,  and  the  scarcity  of  pro- 
visions was  continually  increasing  ;  the  people  were  compelled 
to  live  upon  clams  and  muscles,  ground  nuts  and  acorns,  and 
these  were  obtained  with  much  difficulty  in  the  winter  time. 
"  Upon  these  accounts,"  say  our  town  records,  "  the  people 
became  much  tired  and  discouraged,  especially  when  they 
heard  that  the  Governor  had  his  last  batch  of  bread  in  the 
oven.  And  many  were  the  fears  of  the  people,  that  Mr. 
Pearce,  who  was  sent  to  Ireland  to  fetch  provisions,  was  cast 
away  or  taken  by  pirates ;  but  God  who  delights  to  appear  in 
greatest  straits  did  work  marvellously  at  this  time,  for  before 
the  very  day  appointed  to  seek  the  Lord  by  fasting  and  prayer, 
about  the  month  of  February  or  March,  (5th  of  February,)^  in 
comes  Mr.  Pearce  laden  with  provisions  ;  upon  which  occasion 
the  day  of  fast  was  changed  and  ordered  to  be  kept  as  a  day  of 
thanksgiving.  The  provisions  were  distributed  among  the 
people  in  proportion  to  their  necessities." 

I  shall  pass  hastily  over  the  occurrences  that  transpired  during 
the  two  years  that  the  people  of  Boston  and  Charlestown  were 
united  in  the  same  church, — these  subjects  belonging  rather  to 
the  history  of  the  First  church  in  Boston  and  to  the  history 
of  this  town. 

In  March  of  1631,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson  left  for  England,'' 
intrusting  the  spiritual  charge  of  his  church  to  Governor  Win- 
throp.  Deputy  Governor  Dudley,  and  Mr.  Nowell  the  ruling 

•  Mote  11.  •  Town  Records. 

3  Matlier  says  that  on  this  day  Gov.  VVinthrop  was  distributing-  the  last  handful  of  the 
meal  in  the  barrel  unto  a  poor  man  distressed  by  the  wolf  at  the  door,  when  at  that  instant 
ihey  spied  a  ship  arrived  at  the  harbor's  mouth  laden  with  provisions  for  them  all.— Vol.  i.  112. 

4"  Note  12. 


19 

elder.  His  place  however,  was  soon  occupied  by  the  Rev. 
John  Eliot,  who  came  to  our  country  the  ensuing  autumn, 
and  was  afterwards  distinguished  as  the  apostle  to  the 
Indians. 

Mr.  Wilson  carried  with  him  a  letter  to  the  Countess  of  Lin- 
coln, written  by  Mr.  Dudley  the  Deputy  Governor  of  the 
Colony.  It  contains  an  impartial  account  of  the  condition  of 
the  plantation  at  that  time,  and  I  will  therefore  present  an 
extract  from  it. 

"  Having  some  leisure,"  he  writes,  "  to  discourse  of  the 
motives  for  other  men's  coming  to  this  place,  or  their  abstain- 
ing from  it ;  after  my  brief  manner  I  say  this :  That  if  any 
come  hither  to  plant  for  worldly  ends,  that  can  live  well  at 
home,  he  commits  an  error,  of  which  he  will  soon  repent  him: 
But  if  for  spiritual,  and  that  no  particular  obstacle  hinder  his 
removal,  he  may  find  here  what  may  well  content  him  :  viz. 
Materials  to  build,  fuel  to  burn,  ground  to  plant,  seas  and  rivers 
to  fish  in,  a  pure  air  to  breath  in,  good  water  to  drink,  till  wine 
or  beer  can  be  made  ;  which  together  with  the  cows,  hogs  and 
goats,  brought  hither  already,  may  suffice  for  food  ;  as  for  fowl 
and  venison,  they  are  dainties  here  as  well  as  in  England. 
For  clothes  and  bedding,  they  must  bring  them  with  them,  till 
time  and  industry  produce  them  here.  In  a  word,  we  yet 
enjoy  little  to  be  envied,  and  endure  much  to  be  pitied  in  the 
sickness  and  mortality  of  our  people.  And  I  do  the  more 
willingly  use  this  open  and  plain  dealing,  lest  other  men 
should  fall  short  of  their  expectations,  when  they  come  hither, 
as  we  to  our  great  prejudice  did ;  by  means  of  letters  sent  us 
from  hence  into  England ;  wherein  honest  men  out  of  a  desire  to 
draw  over  others  to  them,  wrote  somewhat  hyperbolically  of 
many  things  here.  If  any  godly  men  out  of  religious  ends  will 
come  over  to  help  us  in  the  good  work  we  are  about,  I  think 
they  cannot  dispose  of  themselves,  nor  of  their  estates  more  to 
God's  glory,  and  the  furtherance  of  their  own  reckoning :  but 
they  must  not  be  of  the  poorer  sort  yet,  for  divers  years.  For 
we  have  found  by  experience  that  they  have  hindered,  not 
furthered  the  work  :  and  for  prophane  and  debauched  persons, 
their  oversight  in  coming  hither  is  wondered  at,  where  they 
shall  find  nothing  to  content  them.  If  there  be  any  endued 
with  grace,  and  furnished  with  means  to  feed  themselves  and 


20 

theirs  for  eighteen  months,  and  to  build  and  plant,  let  them 
come  into  our  Macedonia,  and  help  us,  and  not  spend  them- 
selves and  their  estates  in  a  less  profitable  employment :  for 
others  I  conceive  they  are  not  yet  fitted  for  this  business."  ^ 

The  return  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson  took  place  May  26,  1632, 
and  in  August  the  congregation  of  Boston  and  Charlestown 
began  to  build  a  meeting-house  ;  for  which  purpose,  and  the 
erection  of  a  dwelling-house  for  Mr.  Wilson,  a  voluntary  con- 
tribution was  made,  amounting  to  about  £120.  This  building 
was  erected  on  the  south  side  of  State  street,  in  Boston  ;  its 
roof  was  of  thatch,  and  its  walls  of  mud.^ 

This  was  the  last  enterprise  in  which  the  united  congrega- 
tion of  Boston  and  Charlestown  were  engaged.  The  division 
of  the  church  took  place  soon  after.  The  more  immediate 
occasion  of  this,  was  the  arrival  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  James, 
who  became  an  inhabitant  of  this  place,  and  thus  afforded  the 
people  an  opportunity  to  establish  a  separate  church.  The 
severity  of  the  winter  season  seemed  also  to  render  the  step 
necessary.  We  learn  from  Winthrop's  journal,  that  our  people 
were  unable  to  cross  the  ferry  on  some  occasions,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  cold  and  the  quantity  of  floating  ice  in  the  river. 
The  winter  Avas  now  setting  in  upon  them,  and  it  was  destined 
to  be  the  severest  one  the  Pilgrims  had  ever  experienced.^ 

The  request  of  the  Charlestown  members  having  been  made 
for  a  dismission,  the  church  appointed  the  11th  of  October  for 
seeking  the  direction  of  God,  and  on  the  following  Sabbath 
(14th)  35  persons,  19  males  and  16  females,  were  dismissed  to 
form  this  church. 

Up  to  the  period  of  the  separation,  i.  e.  from  July,  1630,  to 
October,  1632,   151  persons  had  been  admitted  to  full  com- 


1  1  Mass.  H.  S.  Coll.  viii.  42.  For  the  most  accurate  copy  of  this  interesting  and  valuable 
letter  see  Force's  Hist.  Tracts,  vol  ii.  In  this  connection  the  following  extract  from  Mather 
will  be  found  interesting.  "  By  computation  the  passage  of  the  persons  that  peopled  New 
England  cost  at  least  £95,000."  'I'he  transportation  of  their  first  small  stock  of  cattle  great 
and  small  cost  no  less  than  £12,000,  besides  the  price  of  the  cattle  themselves:  the  pro- 
visions laid  in  for  subsistence,  till  tillage  might  produce  more,  cost  £45,0fK3 :  the  materials 
for  their  first  cottages  cost  £18,000;  their  arms,  ammunition  and  great  artillery,  cost 
£22,000  ;  besides  which  £192,000,  the  adventurers  laid  out  in  England  what  was  not  incon- 
siderable. About  198  ships  were  employed  in  passing  the  perils  of  the  seas,  in  the  accom- 
plishment of  this  renowned  settlement;  whereof  by  the  way,  but  one  miscarried  in  those 
perils  " — Mug.  I-  64. 

2  Winthrop's  Journal,  p.  87.     Emerson's  Hist.  First  Chh. 

3  "  A  terrible  cold  winter,"  says  Johnson,  "  with  weekly  snows,  and  fierce  frosts  between 
while  congealing  Charles  River,  as  well  from  the  town  to  sea-ward,  as  above,  insomuch  that 
men  might  frequently  pass  from  one  island  to  another  upon  the  ice."—  W.  W.  Frov.  ch.  xxvi. 


21 

miinion,  80  or  90  of  whom  were  males,  and  constituted  the 
body  of  the  inhabitants.  Tiie  Charlestown  members  therefore 
made  up  nearly  one  fourth  of  the  church. 

Friday,  the  2d  of  November,  or  12th,^  according  to  our  mode 
of  reckoning,  was  set  apart  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer, 
when  a  church  covenant  was  formed,  and  subscribed  by  35 
persons,  19  males  and  16  females,  and  Mr.  James  elected  and 
ordained  pastor.  The  covenant  is  expressed  in  nearly  the  same 
words  as  the  original  covenant  of  the  first  church.^ 

We  have  no  record  left  us  of  the  religious  ceremonies  of  this 
day  ;  but  we  may  learn  with  sufficient  accuracy  what  they 
were,  from  the  particular  account  which  Johnson  has  given  us 
of  the  organization  of  the  Fhst  church  in  Woburn,  which  was 
constituted  out  of  this  church  ten  years  after.  The  congre- 
gation assembled  about  eight  o'clock, — perhaps  under  the 
Charlestown  Oak,  beneath  which  the  first  religious  assemblies 
were  held.  After  the  public  exercises, — which  in  the  case  of 
the  Woburn  church  were  performed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Symmes, 
pastor  of  this  chm-ch,  who  "  continued  in  preaching  and  prayer 
about  the  space  of  four  or  five  hours," — those  who  were  to  join 
first  in  the  covenant  stood  forth  and  gave  a  relation  of  their 
religious  experience — what  the  Lord  had  done  for  them  by  his 
word  and  providence — and  also  a  profession  of  their  faith  iii 
those  doctrines  upon  which  their  hopes  were  founded.  The 
messengers  of  other  churches  present  questioned  them  on  any 
points  they  had  doubt  of,  until  all  Avere  satisfied.  They  then 
unitedly  entered  into  covenant  with  one  another  ;  after  which 
they  received  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  from  the  representa- 
tives of  the  churches,  and  were  recognized  as  a  regularly  con- 
stituted church. 

After  this  they  proceeded  to  elect  a  pastor,  and  chose  Mr. 
James,  who  was  set  apart  to  office-work  in  this  church,  by  two 
or  three  persons,  who  laid  their  hands  upon  his  head,  and  said, 
"We  ordain  thee  to  be  pastor  unto  this  church  of  Christ."  ^ 

>  Note  13.  2  Note  14. 

3  It  was  in  this  manner  that  Mr.  Carter,  the  first  minister  ot  the  Woburn  church,  was 
ordained.  See  Johnson's  Wonder  Working  Providence,  ch.  xxii.  But  Hubbard  tells  us, 
ch.  xlviii,  "  There  was  some  little  difference  about  the  manner  of  his  ordination  ;  for  in  regard 
they  had  no  other  officer  in  their  church  besides,  nor  any  of  their  members  that  thought 
themselves  fit  to  solemnize  such  an  ordinance,  they  were  advised  by  some  to  desire  the 
elders  of  other  churches  to  perform  it,  by  imposing  hands  on  the  said  Mr.  Carter ;  but  others 
supposing  it  might  be  an  occasion  of  introducing  the  dependency  of  churches,  &c.  and 


22 

The  first  time  this  church  assembled  after  its  organization, 
for  pubhc  worship,  was  on  the  4th  of  November,  O.  S.  With 
the  close  of  this  Sabbath,^  therefore,  two  hundred  and  ten 
years  will  have  passed  away,  since  this  church  commemorated 
our  Lord's  resurrection  for  the  first  time.  From  that  time  to 
this,  with  the  exception  of  a  little  more  than  three  years,  when 
the  town  lay  in  ashes,  and  the  people  were  dispersed,  the 
worship  of  God  has  been  maintained,  and  his  ordinances  duly 
administered. 

And  here  let  me  mention  the  order  of  public  worship  ob- 
served by  the  Puritans  :  it  will  enable  us  to  form  some  idea  of 
the  manner  in  which  our  fathers  spent  the  Lord's  day  on  which 
they  first  assembled  as  a  distinct  church,  as  well  as  their  Sab- 
baths generally. 

They  came  together  in  the  morning  of  the  Sabbath  as  early 
as  9  o'clock,  and  frequently  before.  After  prayer  either  the 
pastor  or  the  teacher  read  a  chapter  and  expounded  it,  giving 
the  sense,  to  cause  the  people  to  understand  the  reading,  ac- 
cording to  Neh.  viii.  8.  A  psalm  was  then  sung,  which  was 
dictated  by  the  ruling  elder,^  and  a  sermon  preached  by  the 
one  who  had  not  expounded,  commonly  the  pastor,  and  the 
services  were  closed  with  a  prayer  and  blessing  by  the  teacher. 
The  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered  in  the 
morning  once  a  month,  notice  of  which  was  given  a  fortnight 
beforehand,  the  ministers  and  ruling  elders  sitting  at  the  table, 
the  two  ministers  sharing  equally  in  the  services,  which  were 
what  they  now  are. 

In  the  afternoon,  after  prayer  by  the  pastor  or  teacher,  the 
Word  was  again  read  and  expounded,  (if  time  allowed,)  by  the 
one  who  preached  in  the  morning,  and  a  sermon  preached  by 

so  of  a  presbytery,  were  not  so  free  to  admit  thereof,  and  therefore  it  was  performed  by  one 
of  their  own  members,  though  not  so  well  to  the  satisfaction  of  some  of  the  magistrates  and 
ministers  then  present;  and  since  that  time  it  hath  been  more  frequent  in  such  cases  to  desire 
the  elders  of  neighboring  churches,  by  virtue  of  communion  of  churches,  to  ordain  such  as 
are  by  the  churches  and  people  chosen  to  be  their  ofiicers,  where  there  are  no  elders  before." 
When  Mr.  Cotton  was  ordained  teacher  of  the  Boston  Church,  Oct.  17,  1633,  the  pastor, 
Mr.  Wilson,  and  the  two  ruling  elders,  laid  their  hands  upon  his  head,  while  the  pastor 
prayed  and  gave  him  the  charge  of  the  congregation.  Then  the  neighboring  ministers  that 
were  present  gave  him  the  right  hand  of  fellowship.  When  no  eldership  existed  previously 
in  a  church,  it  was  held  proper  that  some  of  the  brethren  should  be  deputed  by  the  church  to 
ordain;  and  this,  says  Hubbard,  was  approved  of  "by  the  learned  Dr.  Hombeck,  Professor 
of  Divinity  in  Holland,  and  a  Presbyterian  in  his  judgment,  and  engaged  in  the  defence  of 
that  cause."  But  it  soon  became  the  usual  practice  for  the  ordination  to  be  performed  by 
the  elders  of  neighboring  churches,  in  virtue  of  the  communion  of  churches.  iSee  Hubbard, 
ch.  xxviii. 
1  November  13,  1842.  a  Note  15. 


23 

the  other,  commonly  the  teacher.  After  this,  baptism  was 
administered,  (if  occasion  required,)  by  either  pastor  or  teacher, 
in  the  deacons'  seat,  which  was  under  the  elders'  and  higher 
than  the  other  pews.  The  minister  commonly  made  an  exhorta- 
tion to  the  church  and  parents  concerning  the  ordinance,  and 
prayed  before  and  after.  This  ended,  the  contribution  followed, 
one  of  the  deacons  calling  upon  the  people  and  saying,  Brethren 
of  the  congregation,  now  there  is  time  left  for  contribution, 
wherefore  as  God  hath  prospered  you,  so  freely  offer.  The 
whole  congregation  then  arose  and  proceeded  to  the  deacons' 
seat,  the  magistrates  and  chief  gentlemen  first,  and  then  the 
elders,  and  then  the  rest  of  the  congregation,  all  the  men,  all 
single  persons,  widows,  and  women  in  the  absence  of  their 
husbands,  came  up  one  by  one,  and  put  their  offerings 
into  a  box  of  wood  made  for  the  purpose,  and  then  passed 
another  w^ay  to  their  seats  again.  Their  offerings  were  of 
money,  and  goods  and  chattels  of  various  descriptions ;  and 
from  them,  the  deacons  made  distribution  for  the  maintenance 
of  the  ministers,  the  poor  of  the  church,  and  other  purposes, 
such  as  the  church  appointed.  This  custom  was  founded  on 
Deut.  xvi.  16,  Acts  iv.  35,  and  vi.  3,  1  Cor.  i.  2.  After  the 
contribution,  members  were  received,  and  cases  of  discipline 
tried,  until  it  oftentimes  became  very  late.  If  they  had  time, 
a  psalm  was  sung,  and  the  services  concluded  with  a  prayer 
and  blessing.^ 

Before  proceeding  any  further  in  our  narrative,  allow  me  to 
give  a  brief  account  of  the  origin  of  the  Puritans,  that  we  may 
obtain  some  general  idea  of  their  religious  character,  and  the 
principles  that  led  to  their  dissent  from  the  Church  of  England. 

The  Puritans  had  their  origin  in  the  convulsions  into  which 
Europe  was  thrown  by  the  Reformation.  Previously  to  that 
memorable  era,  the  Christian  church  had  preserved  for  the  most 
part  a  visible  unity,  and  the  Bishop  of  Rome  had  gradually 
subjugated  the  Christian  world,  and  by  the  same  insensible 
degrees  the  most  monstrous  errors  had  crept  into  the  creed  and 
worship  of  the  church.  When  the  conscience  and  common 
sense  of  the  world  began  to  awake,  arid  men  inquired  what 
was  of  divine  and  what  of  human  origin,  as  a  matter  of  course 

1  Cotton's  Way  of  the  Chhs.  ch.  iv.    Lechford's  Plain  Dealing,  3  Mass.  H.  S.  Coll.  iii.  76. 


24 

a  great  conflict  of  opinion  ensued,  and  two  great  parties  were 
formed,  one  advocating  the  old  established  order  of  things,  and 
the  other  maintaining  the  necessity  of  a  reformation  to  a  great- 
er or  less  extent. 

This  great  contest  commenced  early  and  raged  long  in 
England — om*  father-land.  Previously  to  the  reign  of  Henry 
VIII.  the  elements  of  the  Reformation  existed  in  England,  and 
many  noble  spirits  had  labored  and  bled  in  that  cause.  At 
length,  however,  that  imperious  monarch,  wishing  to  obtain  a 
divorce  from  his  wife,  and  having  applied  in  vain  to  the  Pope, 
who  for  certain  reasons  could  not  grant  it,  declai-ed  the  church 
of  England  independent  of  the  Roman  See,  and  himself  the 
Head  of  the  church.  This,  of  course,  was  rather  a  political 
than  a  moral  revolution;  but  it  afforded  the  friends  of  the 
Reformation,  both  in  the  kingdom  and  on  the  continent,  a 
favorable  opportunity,  which  they  diligently  improved  in  spread- 
ing among  the  people  a  correct  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures. 
So  that  during  the  reign  of  Henry  and  the  short  reign  of  the 
gentle  Edward,  the  Reformation  took  such  deep  root  in 
England,  that  no  violence  was  ever  subsequently  able  to  extir- 
pate it. 

Under  the  reign  of  the  cruel  Mary,  popery  was  re-established, 
and  everything  done  which  persecution  could  do,  to  prevent 
the  spread  of  the  Reformation.  It  was  impossible  ;  the  blood 
of  the  martyrs  was  the  seed  of  the  church.  Many  bright 
lights  were  indeed  extinguished,  and  much  of  the  purest  and 
best  blood  of  England  shed.  But  this  was  all  that  persecution 
could  do  ;  it  killed  the  body,  but  the  spirit  of  the  martyrs  fled 
to  the  breasts  of  the  people,  and  became  omnipotent  and  im- 
mortal. It  was  in  this  sanguinary  period  that  the  Puritan  or 
leading  portion  of  the  Reformers,  suffered  most  severely,  and 
testified  by  their  sufferings  and  death,  how  heartily  they  had 
espoused  and  how  dearly  they  loved  the  cause  of  pure  religion. 
Under  Elizabeth  the  reformed  religion  was  revived  and  perma- 
nently established  as  the  religion  of  the  state  ; — and  now  the 
question  arose,  To  what  extent  shall  we  carry  the  Reformation  ; 
what  part  of  the  ancient  forms  and  services  of  the  church 
shall  be  retained,  and  what  part  reformed  ?  Upon  this  question 
two  great  parties  arose, — the  one  for  departing  to  a  greater,  and 
the  other  to  a  less  extent  from  the  church,  as  they  found  it  at 


25 

the  period  of  the  Reformation.  Tliere  was  a  large  class,  as  you 
would  naturally  suppose,  who  were  on  the  side  of  the  Reforma- 
tion from  political  motives,  and  having  no  spiritual  sympathies 
with  Luther  and  the  Reformers,  were  in  favor  of  retaining 
all  the  peculiarities  of  their  ancient  faith  and  worship.  Then 
there  were  a  class  of  genuine  Reformers,  who  from  conviction 
and  a  conservative  dread  of  radical  changes,  were  disposed  to 
stop  short  in  the  work  of  reform,  lest  it  should  unsettle  the 
very  foundations  of  religion.  And  finally  there  were  the  Puri- 
tans, who,  as  their  name  imports,  were  for  purifying  the 
church,  from  everything  for  which  evidence  might  not  be  pro- 
duced from  the  Scriptures. 

In  January,  1563,  Q,ueen  Elizabeth's  first  Protestant  Convo- 
cation assembled,  of  which  Alexander  Nowell — the  uncle  or 
great  uncle  of  Increase  Nowell  the  founder  of  this  church — was 
prolocutor.  This  convocation  agreed  to  the  thirty-nine  articles, 
and  having  finished  the  articles,  proceeded  to  the  Reformation 
of  Ceremonies  in  the  Public  Liturgy,  and  it  was  on  this  subject 
that  a  great  contest  arose,  and  the  Puritan  party  (embracing 
the  larger  part  of  the  dignitaries  of  the  church)  were  defeated 
by  a  majority  of  one.  The  points  upon  which  this  final  issue 
was  made,  were  the  following  six  in  number ; — "  That  all 
Sundays  and  principal  feasts  of  Christ  be  kept  holy  days,  and 
all  others  abrogated.  That  the  minister  in  common  prayer 
turn  his  face  to  the  people  and  distinctly  read  the  service. 
That  in  baptism,  the  ceremony  of  making  the  cross  on  the 
child's  forehead  be  omitted,  as  tending  to  superstition.  That 
at  the  communion,  kneeling  may  be  left  to  the  discretion  of 
the  ordinary.  That  it  be  sufficient  in  time  of  saying  divine 
service  and  ministering  the  sacraments,  to  use  a  surplice.  And 
finally  that  the  use  of  organs  be  removed."  ^ 

These  articles  were  voted  down  by  a  bare  majority,  procured 
by  proxies  ; — and  from  that  time  forward,  the  Puritans  were 
displaced  and  oppressed  with  increasing  severity  until  some 
were  driven  to  separation  and  exile.  The  policy  adopted  by 
Elizabeth  and  her  advisers  was  designed  to  conciliate  the 
papists,  and  for  this  purpose  ancient  ceremonies  were  retained, 
that  the  outward  shows  of  religion  might  be   the  same.     The 

*  Strype,  quoted  by  Prince,  p.  291,  and  Bumct,  iii.  454, 

4 


26 

scruples  of  the  Puritans  were  disregarded,  their  intelligent  and 
conscientious  convictions  were  treated  with  contempt,  and  they 
were  required  to  bow  to  the  authority  of  the  church  in  respect 
to  outward  ceremonies,  which  common  sense  as  well  as 
Christian  charity  would  require  should  be  left  to  the  discretion 
of  the  worshipper  or  minister. 

This  spirit  of  tyrannical  and  absurd  interference  with  the 
rights  of  conscience,  descended  from  Elizabeth  to  her  suc- 
cessor King  James ;  and  the  hopes  of  the  Puritans  were  finally 
crushed  by  the  issue  of  the  conference  at  Hampton  Court,  On 
this  occasion  Dr.  Reynolds  stated,  in  behalf  of  the  Puritans, 
that  all  they  required  might  be  reduced  to  these  four  heads ; — 
purity  of  doctrine, — the  supply  of  the  churches  with  good 
pastors, — the  scriptural  administration  of  church  government, 
— and  the  improvement  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer. 

In  regard  to  the  first  point  nothing  was  obtained  except  a 
new  translation  of  the  Bible  ; — and  for  this  noble  translation, 
now  in  the  hands  of  all  English  Christians,  the  world  are 
indebted  to  the  Puritans. 

In  reply  to  their  scruple  how  far  the  ordinance  of  the  church 
bindeth,  without  impeaching  Christian  liberty  ?  James  warm- 
ly declared,  "  I  will  not  argue  that  point  with  you,  but  answer 
as  kings  in  Parliament,  Le  Roy  s'avisera.  This  is  like  Mr. 
John  Black,  a  beardless  boy,  who  told  me  the  last  conference 
in  Scotland,  that  he  would  hold  conformity  with  his  Majesty  in 
matters  of  doctrine,  but  every  man  for  ceremonies  was  to  be 
left  to  his  own  liberty.  But  I  will  have  none  of  that !  I  will 
have  one  doctrine,  one  discipline,  one  religion  in  substance  and 
ceremony.  Never  speak  more  to  that  point  how  far  you  are 
bound  to  obey  !  " 

In  regard  to  church  government.  Dr.  Reynolds  desired  that 
the  clergy  might  have  meetings  every  three  weeks  for  the  dis- 
cussion of  scriptural  and  theological  questions.  "  If  you  aim 
at  a  Scottish  Presbytery,"  replied  the  king,  "  it  agreeth  as  well 
with  monarchy  as  God  and  the  Devil.  Then  Jack  and  Tom 
and  Will  and  Dick,  shall  meet  and  censure  me  and  my  council.. 
Therefore  I  reiterate  my  former  speech,  '  Le  Roy  s'avisera.' 
Stay  I  pray  for  one  seven  years  before  you  demand  that !  and 
then  if  you  find  me  grow  pursy  and  fat,  I  may,  perchance,, 
hearken  unto  you,  for  that  government  will  keep  me  in  breath 


27 

and  give  me  work  enough."  And  then  repeating  his  favorite 
maxim,  "  No  bishop,  no  king  !  "  the  king  broke  up  the  con- 
ference by  saying,  "  if  this  be  all  your  party  hath  to  say,  I  will 
make  them  conform,  or  harrie  them  out  of  the  land, — or  else 
do  worse  !  "  ^ 

Such  was  the  spirit  of  the  temporal  Head  of  the  church  of 
England  when  the  Puritans  were  struggling  to  advance  and 
secure  the  principles  of  the  Reformation.  As  a  consequence,  they 
were  excluded  from  the  National  church,  although,  for  serious 
piety,  sound  learning,  and  heroic  sufferings,  under  the  perse- 
cuting reign  of  Queen  Mary,  they  were  as  much  entitled  to  be 
embraced  Avithin  it,  as  any  portion  of  the  English  people.  To 
the  church  as  now  established  by  law,  the  Puritans  could  not 
conform, — and  hence  their  name — Non-conformists.  They 
were  at  the  outset  a  numerous  and  powerful  party  ;  and  they 
increased,  till  under  the  tyrannical  reign  of  Charles  I.,  they 
overthrew  the  constitution  of  both  church  and  state. 

The  Puritans,  however,  were  by  no  means  agreed  among 
themselves.  There  was  among  them  a  class  of  rigid  Separatists 
who  looked  upon  the  entire  constitution  of  the  English  as  well 
as  Roman  church,  as  unscriptural  and  anti-Christian ; — they 
came  out  from  among  them,  therefore,  and  held  themselves 
separate.  The  non-conformists  generally  however  did  not  for- 
mally separate  from  her,  but  held  themselves  ready  to  unite 
with  her  as  a  true  church,  when  released  from  observances  and 
tests,  which  in  conscience  they  could  not  submit  to. 

Such  were  the  Puritans  of  Massachusetts.  They  not  only 
owned  themselves  Englishmen,  but  the  church  of  England 
also  as  their  dear  mother.  And  the  letter  which  Winthrop  and 
his  companions  addressed  to  their  brethren  of  the  church  of 
England,  on  taking  farewell  of  them,  is  a  beautiful  exhibition 
of  the  mild  spirit  and  rational  principles,  with  which  they 
began  their  enterprise  :  the  sweetness  of  its  humanity  as  well 
as  its  simple  and  heart-touching  eloquence  has  made  it  and 
will  always  make  it,  one  of  the  dearest  monuments  to 
their  praise.  It  is  entitled  "  The  humble  request  of  his 
Majesty's  loyal  subjects,  the  Governor  and  Company  late  gone 
for  New  England  ;  for  the  obtaining  of  their  prayers,  and  the 


I  Soulhey's  Book  of  the  Church. 


28 

removal  of  suspicions  and  misconstructions  of  their  intentions." 
[London,  printed  for  John  Bellamie,  1630.  4to.]  ^ 

*'  Reverend  Fathers  and  Brethren  : 

"  The  general  rumor  of  this  solemn  enterprise,  wherein  our- 
selves with  others,  through  the  providence  of  the  Almighty  are 
engaged,  as  it  may  spare  us  the  labor  of  imparting  our  occasion 
unto  you,  so  it  gives  us  the  more  encouragement  to  strengthen 
ourselves  by  the  procurement  of  the  prayers  and  blessings  of  the 
Lord's  faithful  servants.  For  which  end  Ave  are  bold  to  have 
recourse  unto  you,  as  those  whom  God  hath  placed  nearest  his 
throne  of  mercy ;  which  as  it  affords  you  the  more  opportunity, 
so  it  imposeth  the  greater  bond  upon  you  to  intercede  for  his 
people  in  all  their  straits. 

"  We  beseech  you,  therefore,  by  the  mercies  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  to  consider  us  as  your  brethren,  standing  in  very  great 
need  of  your  help,  and  earnestly  imploring  it.  And  howsoever 
your  charity  may  have  met  with  some  occasion  of  discourage- 
ment through  the  misreport  of  our  intentions,  or  through  the 
disaffection  or  indiscretion  of  some  of  us,  or  rather  amongst  us, 
for  we  are  not  of  those  that  dream  of  perfection  in  this  world ; 
yet  we  desire  you  would  be  pleased  to  take  notice  of  the  prin- 
cipals and  body  of  our  company,  as  those  who  esteem  it  our 
honor  to  call  the  Church  of  England,  from  whence  we  rise, 
our  dear  mother  ;  and  cannot  part  from  our  native  country, 
where  she  specially  resideth,  without  much  sadness  of  heart, 
and  many  tears  in  our  eyes,  ever  acknowledging  that  such  hope 
and  part  as  we  have  obtained  in  the  common  salvation,  we 
have  received  in  her  bosom,  and  sucked  it  from  her  breasts. 
We  leave  it  not,  therefore,  as  loathing  that  milk  wherewith  we 
were  nourished  there  ;  but  blessing  God  for  the  parentage  and 
education  ;  as  members  of  the  same  body  shall  always  rejoice 
in  her  good,  and  unfeignedly  grieve  for  any  sorrow  shall  ever 
betide  her,  and  while  we  have  breath  sincerely  desire  and  en- 
deavor the  continuance  and  abundance  of  her  welfare,  with 
the  enlargement  of  her  bovmds  in  the  kingdom  of  Christ  Jesus. 

"  Be  pleased,  therefore,  reverend  fathers  and  brethren,  to 
help  forward  this  work  now  in  hand ;  which,  if  it  prosper,  you 

>  Hubbard,  ch.  xxiii. 


29 

shall  be  the  more  glorious  ;  howsoever,  your  judgment  is  with 
the  Lord,  and  your  reward  Avith  your  God.  It  is  an  usual  and 
laudable  exercise  of  your  charity  to  commend  to  the  prayers  of 
your  congregations  the  necessities  and  straits  of  your  private 
neighbors.  Do  the  like  for  a  church  springing  out  of  your  own 
bowels.  We  conceive  much  hope  that  this  remembrance  of 
us,  if  it  be  frequent  and  fervent,  will  be  a  most  prosperous  gale 
in  our  sails,  and  provide  such  a  passage  and  welcome  for  us, 
from  the  God  of  the  whole  earth,  as  both  we  which  shall  find 
it,  and  yourselves,  with  the  rest  of  our  friends  who  shall  hear 
of  it,  shall  be  much  enlarged  to  bring  in  such  daily  returns  of 
thanksgivings,  as  the  specialties  of  his  providence  and  goodness 
may  justly  challenge  at  all  our  hands.  You  are  not  ignorant, 
that  the  Spirit  of  God  stirred  up  the  Apostle  Paul  to  make 
continual  mention  of  the  church  of  Philippi,  (which  was  a 
colony  from  Rome) ;  let  the  same  spirit,  we  beseech  you,  put 
you  in  mind,  that  are  the  Lord's  remembrancers,  to  pray  for 
us  without  ceasing,  (who  are  a  weak  colony  from  yourselves,) 
making  continual  request  for  us  to  God  in  all  your  prayers. 
What  we  entreat  of  you  that  are  the  ministers  of  God,  that  we 
also  crave  at  the  hands  of  all  the  rest  of  our  brethren,  that  they 
would  at  no  time  forget  us  in  their  private  solicitations  at  the 
throne  of  grace.  If  any  there  be,  who  through  want  of  clear 
intelligence  of  our  course,  or  tenderness  of  affection  towards  us, 
cannot  conceive  so  much  of  our  way  as  we  could  desire,  we 
would  entreat  such  not  to  despise  us,  nor  to  desert  us  in  their 
prayers  and  affections ;  but  to  consider  rather,  that  they  are 
so  much  the  more  bound  to  express  the  bowels  of  their  com- 
passion towards  us,  remembering  always,  that  both  nature  and 
grace  doth  ever  bind  us  to  relieve  and  rescue,  with  our  utmost 
and  speediest  power,  such  as  are  dear  unto  us,  when  we  con- 
ceive them  to  be  running  uncomfortable  hazards. 

"  What  goodness  you  shall  extend  to  us,  in  this  or  any  other 
Christian  kindness,  we,  your  brethren  in  Christ  Jesus,  shall 
labor  to  repay,  in  what  duty  we  are  or  shall  be  able  to  perform  ; 
promising,  so  far  as  God  shall  enable  us,  to  give  him  no  rest  on 
your  behalfs,  wishing  our  heads  and  hearts  may  be  fountains 
of  tears  for  your  everlasting  welfare,  when  we  shall  be  in  our 
poor  cottages  in  the  wilderness,  overshadowed  with  the  spirit 
of  supplication,  through  the  manifold  necessities  and  tribula- 


30 

lions  which  may  not  altogether  unexpectedly,  nor,  we  hope, 
unprofitably  befal  us. 

"  And  so  commending  you  to  the  grace  of  God  in  Christ, 
we  shall  ever  rest  your  assured  friends  and  brethren. 

John  Winthrop,  Gov.  Rich:  Saltonstall, 

Charlks  Fines,  Isaac  Johnson, 

George  Phillips,  Tho  :  Dudley, 

&c.  William  Coddington, 


«fcc. 


■"From  Yarmouth,  aboard  the  Arbella,  April  7,  1630." 


So  likewise  when  Mr.  Higginson,  the  first  minister  of  Salem, 
had  embarked,  and  was  about  to  leave  England,  he  called  up 
his  children  and  other  passengers,  unto  the  stern  of  the  ship  to 
take  their  last  sight  of  England,  saying,  "  We  will  not  say  as 
the  Separatists  were  wont  to  say  at  their  leaving  of  England, 
Farewell  Babylon  !  farewell  Rome  !  But  we  will  say.  Farewell 
dear  England !  farewell  the  church  of  God  in  England,  and 
the  Christian  friends  there  !  We  do  not  go  to  New  England 
as  separatists  from  the  Church  of  England  ;  though  we  cannot 
but  separate  from  the  corruptions  in  it :  but  we  go  to  practice 
the  positive  part  of  church  reformation,  and  propagate  the  gos- 
pel in  America."  ^ 

In  this  spirit  of  Christian  charity  did  the  fathers  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Colony  leave  their  brethren  in  England,  and  begin 
to  establish  civil  and  religious  institutions  in  this  wilderness. 
They  were  not  separatists,  nor  were  they  enthusiastic  theorists. 
Such  there  might  have  been,  and  no  doubt  were  among  them, 
for  they  themselves  intimate,  that  there  were  some  "  ainongst 
them,  who  were  not  of  them."  But  ''the  principals  and  body 
of  their  company  "  were  of  a  far  different  spirit ;  they  went 
forth  as  a  colony,  "  esteeming  it  their  honor  to  call  the  Church 
of  England  their  dear  mother." 

In  this  they  breathed  the  very  spirit  of  catholicity,  and 
evinced  their  freedom  from  the  sin  of  schism  and  sectarianism. 
And  if  any  among  them,  or  of  their  children  after  them,  have 
evinced  a  contrary  spirit,  it  is  shown  to  be  manifestly  a  depar- 
ture from  the  "  Spirit  of  the  Pilgrims."  ^ 


!  Mather's  Mag.  I.  328.  »  Note  16. 


LECTURE    II 


Psalm    Ixxx.  8 —  11. 
Thou  hast  brought  a  vine  out  of  egtpt  :  thou  hast  cast  out  the  heathew, 

AND  planted  it.  ThoU  PREPAREDST  ROOM  BEFORE  IT,  AND  DIDST  CAUSE  IT  TO 
TAKE  DEEP  ROOT,  AND  IT  FILLED  TH  E  LAND.  ThE  H  ILLS  WERE  COVERED  WITH 
THE  SHADOW  OF  IT,  AND  THE  BOUGHS  THEREOF  WERE  LIKE  THE  GOODLY  CEDARS. 
She  SENT  OUT  her  boughs  unto  THE  SEA,  AND  HER  BRANCHES  UNTO  THE  RIVER. 

In  the  first  Lecture,  I  gave  some  account  of  the  First  church 
gathered  upon  this  soil,  the  removal  of  its  pastor  and  majority 
of  its  members  to  Boston,  and  the  causes  which  led  to  the 
organization  of  the  present  First  church  of  Charlestown,  No- 
vember 2,  1632,  two  years  after  the  formation  of  the  original 
church. 

I  shall  now  proceed  to  give  some  account  of  the  founders  or 
original  members,  and  the  first  pastor  of  the  church,  together 
with  a  few  of  the  more  prominent  facts  in  our  ecclesiastical 
history. 

The  first  name  subscribed  to  the  chm'ch  covenant  is  that  of 
Increase  Parnel  No  well.  ^ 

Mr.  Nowell  was  the  only  one  of  the  assistants  or  magistrates 
who  remained  in  this  town,  when  the  governor  and  others  re- 
moved to  Boston.  He  was  also  appointed  ruling  elder  of  the 
church;  an  office  which  he  held  until  a  few  months  before  this 
church  was  formed,  when  the  question  was  agitated  whether  a 
person  might  be  a  civil  magistrate  and  a  ruling  elder  of  the 
church  at  the  same  time.  This  inquiry  was  proposed  in 
writing  to  the  sister  churches  of  Plymouth  and  Salem,  and 
being  answered  by  them  in  the  negative,  Mr.  Nowell  laid  down 
his  office  in  the  church,  and  devoted  himself  exclusively,  to 
the  end  of  life,  to  the  duties  of  a  civil  magistrate,  for  which  he 

•  See  note  14.  The  inethod  of  signing  this  covenant  is  remarkable.  Instead  of  Increase 
Nowell  and  Parnel  his  wife,  it  is  Increase  Parnel  Nowell,  a  single  name,  afibrding:  a  pleasing 
eonformiiy  to  the  declaration  of  Scripture,  "  They  twain,  shall  be  one." 


was  well  qualified.  His  father  or  grandfather,  was  brother  to 
the  famous  Alexander  Nowell,  dean  of  St.  Paul's  in  the  reign 
of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  prolocutor  of  her  first  convocation. 
He  is  mentioned  in  the  charter  of  Massachusetts  granted  by 
King  Charles  I.  as  an  associate  to  the  six  original  patentees, 
and  was  for  a  number  of  years  secretary  of  the  colony.^ 
Johnson,  who  resided  in  this  town,  and  must  have  known 
him  well,  pronounces  a  high  eulogium  upon  him,  as  an  honor- 
able and  upright  hearted  man,  who,  though  brought  up  tenderly 
and  in  the  midst  of  abundance,  was  yet  contented  with  the 
poverty  and  self-denial  of  his  wilderness  home.  As  a  magis- 
trate he  was  just  both  to  poor  and  rich,  and  the  people  expres- 
sed their  sense  of  his  faithfulness,  and  the  constancy  of  their 
regard,  by  choosing  him  secretary  many  successive  years.^ 
He  was  one  of  the  owners  of  the  ship  Jewel,  and  probably 
possessed  a  very  considerable  estate,  but  with  nearly  all  the  first 
and  most  active  planters,  he  became  poor.  He  died  Nov.  1, 
1655.  His  will,  bearing  date  June  23,  1655,  has  been  pre- 
served in  the  probate  office.  Two  of  his  sons,  Samuel  and 
Alexander,  graduated  at  Harvard  college,  the  first  of  whom 
entered  the  ministry,  and  subsequently  occupied  important 
stations  in  the  service  of  the  colony.  The  services  of  Mr. 
Nowell  appear  to  have  been  held  in  grateful  memory.  Shortly 
after  his  death,  the  town  released  his  widow  from  paying  the 
town  rates  thenceforward.  The  General  Court  had,  in  1650, 
made  him  a  grant  of  3,200  acres  of  land. 

I  have  been  thus  particular  in  regard  to  Mr.  Nowell,  because 
he,  more  than  any  other  man,  may  be  considered  the  father  of 
the  church  and  the  town.  He  was  a  zealous  Puritan,  an  active 
.and  devout  Christian,  and  deserves  to  be  held  in  grateful  esteem 

1  Wintlirop's  Jour.     Emerson's  Hist  First  Ch.     Prince's  Chron. 
-2  Johnson  bestows  the  following  hnes  upon  Mr.  Increase  Nowell. 

"  Increase  shall  thou,  with  honor  now,  in  this  thy  undertaking'. 
Thou  hast  remained,  as  yet  unstained,  all  errors  foul  forsaking; 
To  poor  and  rich  thy  justice  much  hath  manifested  been, 
Like  Samuel,  Nathanael,  Christ  hath  iliee  framed  within; 
Thy  faithfulness  people  express,  and  Secretary  they 
Chose  thee  each  year,  bj'  which  appear,  their  love  with  thee  doth  stay. 
Now  Nowell  see,("hrist  called  hatn  thee,  and  work  thou  must  for  him, 
In  beating  down  the  triple  crown,  and  all  that  his  foes  been. 
'J'hus  doest  thou  stand  by  Christ,  frail  man,  to  tell  his  might  can  make 
i>usl  do  his  will,  with  graces  fill,  till  dust  to  him  he  take." 

W.  W.  Frov.  ch.  xxvi. 


33 

by  the  citizens  of  this  Commonwealth,  and  especially  by  the 
inhabitants  of  this  town.^ 

The  second  name  among  the  founders  of  this  clim-ch,  is  that 
of  Thomas  Beecher.  He  was  the  master  of  the  ship  Talbot, 
which  was  the  Vice  Admiral  of  the  fleet  that  brought  Winthrop 
and  his  company  to  our  shores  ;  he  had  also  brought  to  Salem 
the  year  before  in  the  same  vessel,  the  venerable  Higginson, 
the  first  minister  of  Salem,  and  the  father  of  the  Massachusetts 
clergy.  He  early  united  with  the  Boston  church,  and  was  a 
representative  from  this  town  the  first  time  that  deputies  were 
sent  to  the  General  Court. ^ 

The  third  subscriber  was  Abraham  Palmer,  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  the  town,  havuig  come  hither  with  the  Spragues  in 
1628.  He  was  one  of  a  committee  appointed  to  administer  the 
oath  of  oflice  to  Gov.  Endicott ;  an  associate  with  Thomas 
Beecher  in  representing  the  town  for  the  first  time  in  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  and  is  also  mentioned  as  a  "  sergeant  having  about 
twelve  men  under  his  command,  in  Mason's  History  of  the 
Pequod  War."^ 

Ralph  Sprague  was  the  fourth,  and  his  brother  Richard  the 
fourteenth,  in  the  list  of  subscribers  to  the  church  covenant. 
They  have  already  been  spoken  of  as  the  first  occupants  of  the 
soil.  They  came  to  this  country  at  their  own  charge,  and 
were  men  of  enterprise,  property,  and  character.  The  descend- 
ants of  Richard  have  laid  the  church  and  the  town  under  great 
obligations. 

Capt.  Richard  Sprague  died  on  the  25th  of  November,  1668, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-three,  and  bequeathed  to  the  church  pro- 
perty to  the  amount  of  about  £30.  His  son,  who  bore  the 
same  title,  died  on  the  7th  of  October,  1703,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight,  and  was  the  most  munificent  benefactor  of  this 
church,  having  bequeathed  to  it  a  valuable  parsonage-house 
and  lands."* 

Edward  Converse,  the  fifth  named,  was  the  individual  who 
first  established  a  ferry  between  Charlestown  and  Boston.  By 
order  of  the  Court,  (June  14,  1631,)  he  was  permitted  to  charge 
2d.  for  ferrying  a  single  person,   and   Id.   if  there  be  two  or 


"  Note  17.  3  Hubb.  122.    2  Hist.  Coll.  viii.  146. 

*  lavage's  Wintli.  I.  2.  *  Note  18- 


34 

more.  He  subsequently  became  one  of  the  seven  founders  of 
the  church  in  Woburn,  where  his  descendants  stiU  hve. 

Ezekiel  Richardson,  the  next  in  order,  became  also  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Woburn  church. 

Henry  Harwood,  the  eighth,  was  a  companion  of  the  unfor- 
tunate Richard  Garrett,  who  attempted,  in  the  month  of  De- 
cember, the  first  winter  after  the  arrival  of  the  planters,  to  go 
from  Boston  to  Plymouth  in  an  open  shallop,  against  the  advice 
of  his  friends.  Gov.  Winthrop  has  left  us  a  particular  account 
of  this  distressing  occurrence.^  They  were  driven  to  sea  by  a 
storm,  and  after  sufiering  so  much  by  cold  that  they  gave 
themselves  up  for  lost,  they  made  the  shore  of  Cape  Cod. 
Here  they  spent  the  night  without  shelter  or  fire,  and  in  the 
morning  started  for  Plymouth,  supposing  it  to  be  within  seven 
or  eight  miles,  whereas  it  was  at  the  distance  of  fifty.  By  a 
kind  Providence,  they  fell  in  with  an  Indian,  whose  assistance 
was  timely  enough  to  rescue  all  from  death,  except  Richard 
Garrett,  who  died  shortly  after  being  landed,  the  first  victim  of 
the  storm,  where  thousands  have  perished  since.  Harwood, 
after  great  suffering,  partially  recovered,  and  probably  in  con- 
sequence of  his  disability  from  this  calamity,  he  was  appointed 
(1632)  to  keep  the  milch  cattle  of  the  town  in  a  herd  on  the 
main  without  the  neck  until  harvest,  "  driving  them  forth  every 
morning  and  bringing  them  into  town  every  evening."  He 
was  one  of  the  earliest  members  of  the  Boston  church,  and 
is  spoken  of  by  Governor  Winthrop  as  a  godly  man.  He 
lived  but  a  short  time  after  the  organization  of  the  church. 

Robert  Hale,  the  ninth  in  the  list,  and  Ralph  Mousall,  the 
thirteenth,  were  the  first  deacons  of  the  chiuch.^ 

WiUiam  Frothingham,  the  twelfth,  is  the  ancestor  of  the 
large  and  respectable  family  that  bear  his  name,  and  is  the  only 
one  of  the  original  founders  of  the  church,  whose  lineal  de- 
scendants are  still  in  the  midst  of  us;  three  of  his  posterity  have 
successively  borne  the  office  of  deacon  among  us,  and  the  name 
has  been  on  the  list  of  members  from  that  time  to  this. 

I  conclude  these  sketches,  with  the  name  of  the  Rev. 
Thomas  James,  the  pastor  of  the  church,  whose  name  occurs 
the  eleventh  in  order.     He  was  born  and  educated  in  England, 

•  WiiUhrop's  Jour.  I.  39.  *  Note  19. 


35 

and  previously  to  his  removal  to  this  country,  he  had  been  a 
minister  in  Lincolnshire,  his  native  county,  where  Johnson 
says  he  was  commended  for  his  courteous  speech  and  work  of 
Christian  love.  His  subsequent  history  will  be  given  here- 
after. 

Before  proceeding  further  in  the  history  of  the  church,  it 
may  be  proper  and  interesting  to  give  some  account  of  the 
general  aspect  of  the  town  and  the  external  conveniences  of  the 
people,  as  they  may  be  gathered  from  the  hints  afforded  us  in 
the  town  records. 

That  part  of  the  peninsula,  east  of  Main  street,  was  the  great 
corn  field,  commonly  called  the  East  field  ;  each  inhabitant 
was  entitled  to  two  acres  to  plant ;  and  the  field  was  enclosed 
by  a  fence  which  extended  from  Thomas  Walford's  on  the 
south  side  of  the  town  hill  over  to  the  east  creek  of  the  town, 
and  at  the  other  end  by  a  fence  from  Ralph  Mousall's,  (whose 
house  was  probably  built  highest  up  on  Main  street, )  carried 
along  by  the  high-way  to  the  neck,  where  it  met  the  Mystic. 
The  town  was  laid  out  around  this  hill,  and  most  of  the  houses 
were  built  here,  and  along  the  road  to  the  country,  which  run 
in  the  general  direction  of  Main  street. 

The  first  place  for  Sabbath  assembly  was  under  the  shade  of 
a  great  oak,  which  grew  on  this  hill,  or  in  the  square,  and 
which  stood  for  many  years  afterwards  and  was  celebrated  as 
the  Charlestown  oak.  After  the  organization  of  the  church, 
the  great  house,  which  was  now  no  longer  used  as  a  govern- 
ment house,  was  purchased  of  Governor  Winthrop  and  the 
other  proprietors  for  the  sum  of  £10,  and  fitted  up  for  the 
meeting-house  of  the  town.  It  stood  at  the  foot  of  this  hill  in 
the  square,  and  was  occupied  by  the  church,  until  1639,  when 
it  was  sold,  and  a  new  meeting-house  erected  on  the  same 
spot.^  Four  individuals  were  admitted  to  the  church  before  the 
close  of  the  year ;  and  in  January  the  first  baptism  took  place, 
which  was  that  of  the  pastor's  son.  John,  the  son  of  Thomas 
and  Elizabeth  James. 

"  At  this  time,"  say  our  town  records,  "  began  a  most  griev- 
ous and  terrible  sickness  amongst  the  Indians,  who  were  ex- 
ceedingly numerous  about  us,  called  the   Aberginians.     Their 

I  Note  20. 


36 

disease  was  generally  the  small  pox,  which  raged  not  only 
amongst  these,  but  amongst  the  eastern  Indians  also,  and  in  a 
few  months  swept  away  multitudes  of  them,  both  young  and 
old.  They  could  not  bury  their  dead,  the  English  were  con- 
strained to  help,  and  that  which  is  very  remarkable  is,  that 
though  the  English  did  frequently  visit  them  in  their  sickness 
notwithstanding  the  infection,  it  was  observed  that  not  one 
Englishman  was  touched  with  the  disease  ;  but  it  was  extra- 
ordinarily infectious  among  themselves,  and  mortal  where  it 
took  any  of  them,  insomuch  that  there  was  scarce  any  of  them 
left."  The  account  which  Johnson  has  left  us  of  the  ravages 
of  this  pestilence,  is  painful  in  the  extreme.  "  The  poor 
creatures,  being  very  timorous  of  death,  would  have  fled  from 
it,  but  could  not  tell  how,  unless  they  could  have  gone  from 
themselves."  "  Relations  were  little  regarded  among  them  at 
this  time,  so  that  many  who  were  smitten  with  disease  died 
helpless,  unless  they  were  near  and  known  to  the  English  : 
their  powwows,  wizards,  and  charmers,  were  possessed  with  the 
greatest  fear  of  any.  The  winter's  piercing  cold  stayed  not  the 
strength  of  this  hot  disease,  yet  the  English  endeavoring  to 
visit  their  sick  wigwams,  helped  them  all  they  could,  but  as 
they  entered  one  of  their  matted  houses,  they  behold  a  most 
sad  spectacle,  death  having  smitten  all  but  one  poor  infant, 
which  lay  on  the  ground  sucking  the  breast  of  its  dead  mother, 
seeking  to  draw  living  nourishment  from  her  dead  breast."  ^ 

And  here  it  is  a  pleasing  duty  to  stop  awhile  and  contemplate 
this  exhibition  of  humanity  and  Christian  love.  We  look 
around  us  and  imagine  that  we  see  "  the  matted  houses " 
of  the  Aberginians  still  standing  within  the  forest,  and  the 
pilgrims  regardless  of  infection  approaching  the  sick  and  dying, 
(from  whom  their  own  kindred  had  fled  with  savage  amaze- 
ment,) alleviating  their  sufferings,  if  not  rescuing  them  from 
death,  and  endeavoring  to  enlighten  and  comfort  their  benight- 
ed souls  with  Christian  instruction  and  hope.  Governor  Win- 
throp  says,  it  made  a  deep  impression  upon  their  hearts,  "  that 
when  their  own  people  forsook  them,  yet  the  English  came 
frequently  and  ministered  unto  them." 

In  the  month  of  December  1633,  this  disease  attacked  John 

»  Won.  Work.  Prov.  ch.  xxv. 


37 

Sagamore,^  the  Aberginian  chief,  "  whose  gentle  and  good  dis- 
position, gave  the  earliest  planters  a  free  consent  to  settle  here." 
At  his  own  request  he  was  carried  among  the  English,  by 
whom  he  was  kindly  received,  and  in  his  last  hours  was 
attended  by  the  best  and  most  honored  of  the  pilgrims.  He 
requested  that  his  two  sons  might  be  taken  and  taught  "  to 
know  God ;  and  accordingly  the  governor  took  one,  and  Mr. 
Wilson  the  other"  to  their  respective  homes.^  The  dying  chief 
gave  the  governor  a  good  quantity  of  wampompeague,  or  In- 
dian money,  and  besides  making  gifts  to  many  others,  provided 
for  the  payment  of  all  his  own  debts  and  those  of  his  men. 
He  promised,  if  he  recovered,  to  live  with  the  English,  and 
serve  their  God  ;  and  when  he  died,  it  was  in  the  persuasion 
that  he  should  go  to  the  Englishman's  God.  And  in  the  same 
manner,  we  are  told,  that  many  of  them,  in  their  sickness,  con- 
fessed that  the  God  of  the  pilgrims  was  "  a  good  God,  and  that 
if  they  recovered,  they  would  serve  him." 

Thus  passed  away  the  race,  whose  lands  we  inherit,  and 
upon  whose  graves  we  have  built  the  sepulchres  of  our  fathers ; 
and  thus  died  in  the  bosom  of  Christian  benevolence,  and  in 
the  indulgence  too  of  Christian  hope,  the  last  of  the  Abergini- 
ans.  What  inhabitant  of  Charlestown  does  not  involuntarily 
drop  a  tear  over  the  death  of  the  gentle  John  Sagamore,  whose 
boyhood  was  spent  in  the  oak  forests  of  Mishawum,  and  who 
welcomed,  with  such  unsuspecting  friendship,  the  pale  stranger 
to  share  with  him  his  home  and  his  dominion.  Alas !  how 
hard  has  been  their  fate.  The  very  light  of  civilization  and 
Christianity,  seems  to  have  dissipated  them  ;  they  have  passed 
away  like  mist  over  the  western  hills,  when  pierced  by  the 
rising  sun.  But  we  have  a  bright  page  to  read,  in  the  history 
of  the  pilgrims'  dealings  with  the  sons  of  the  forest.  They 
came  to  this  country  not  merely  to  find  freedom  and  a  home 
for  themselves,  but  also  to  bring  to  the  Indian  a  knowledge  of 
his  God  and  Saviour.  And  in  this  connection  it  is  a  pleasing 
duty,  to  state  that  our  fathers  obtained  the  lands  upon  which 
they  settled,  by  fair  purchase.  They  did  not  deny  to  the  In- 
dian his  rights,  nor  forget  justice  in  dealing  with  him. 

There  is  on  record  a  written  agreement,  under  date  of  April 

I  His  Indian  name  was  Wonohaquaham.  See  Dudley's  Letter,  p.  6,  Force's  Hist.  Tracts, 
II.  ^  Compare  Won.  Work.  Prov.  ch.  xxv.  with  Winthrop'g  Jour.  I.  120. 


38 

15,  1639,  by  which  Web  Cowit  and  Squaw  Sachem,  after 
making  certain  reservations  to  themselves,  sell  to  the  inhabi- 
tants of  this  town,  the  land  within  the  lines  granted  to  them 
by  the  com't,  and  in  full  satisfaction  they  acknowledge  to 
"  have  received  from  Charlestown,  21  coats,  19  fathom  of 
wampum,  and  3  bushels  of  corn." 

When  it  is  remembered  that  the  providence  of  God  had 
swept  away  the  great  majority  of  the  race,  and  that  these  lands 
could  therefore  have  been  of  little  intrinsic  value  to  them,  it 
will  be  seen  that  the  compensation  paid  by  our  fathers  was  not 
only  fair  but  even  generous,  and  must  have  been  so  regarded 
by  the  Indians  themselves. 

To  return  now  to  the  history  of  the  church.  The  settlement 
of  Mr.  James  appears  not  to  have  been  a  happy  one.  After  a 
little  more  than  a  year,  we  learn  from  Governor  Winthrop,  "  a 
spirit  of  jealousy  arose  between  Mr.  James  and  many  of  his 
people,  so  as  Mr.  No  well  and  some  others  who  had  been  dis- 
missed from  Boston,  began  to  question  their  fact  of  breaking 
from  Boston,  and  it  grew  to  such  a  principle  of  conscience 
among  them,  as  the  advice  of  the  other  ministers  was  taken  in 
it,  who  after  two  meetings,  could  not  agree  about  their  con- 
tinuance or  return."  ^ 

It  is  difficult  to  understand  how  Mr.  Nowell  or  any  one  else 
could  have  questioned  the  fact  of  their  having  been  regularly 
dismissed  from  the  Boston  church ;  and  it  would  seem  probable, 
therefore,  that  they  desired  a  return  to  the  mother  church  in 
consequence  of  dissatisfaction  with  the  ministrations  or  temper 
of  their  pastor. 

It  is  obvious  that  a  want  of  harmony  existed  between  pastor 
and  people,  and  this  dissatisfaction,  no  doubt,  led  them  to  seek 
the  settlement  of  a  teacher  among  them,  who  should  supply 
the  deficiencies  of  their  pastor.  This  they  were  enabled  to 
accomplish  the  following  year  by  the  arrival  of  the  Rev. 
Zechariah  Symmes.  He  was  admitted  to  the  fellowship  of 
the  church,  with  Sarah  his  wife,  on  the  6th  of  December,  1634, 
and  on  the  22d  of  the  month,  which  was  kept  as  a  solemn  day 
of  humiliation,  he  was  elected  and  ordained  teacher.  Soon 
after  he  came  over,  he  was  invited  to  assist  in  planting  another 

I  Winthrop,  I.  127. 


39 

church  of  Christ,  but  in  consequence  of  the  place  being  remote 
from  the  ministers  already  settled,  he  chose  to  accept  the 
call  of  this  church.^ 

Mr.  Symmes  was  born  in  Canterbury,  England,  April  5,  1599, 
His  father,  the  Rev.  William  Symmes,  was  ordained  in  1588, 
and  exercised  his  ministry  at  a  period  in  English  history,  when 
it  exposed  him  to  great  suffering.  His  grand  parents  were 
persons  of  piety,  and  befriended  the  Protestant  clergy  during 
the  Marian  persecution.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
University  of  Cambridge,  and  gave  evidence  of  piety  at  a  very 
early  period  of  life.  After  leaving  the  university,  he  was 
chosen  in  1621  to  be  a  lecturer  at  Atholines  in  London  ;  but 
being  frequently  harrassed  by  processes  from  the  Bishops' 
courts,  for  his  non-conformity  to  certain  instituted  ceremonies 
of  public  worship,  he  removed  to  Dunstable  in  1625,  and 
thence,  his  troubles  still  continuing,  to  this  country.^  Johnson 
bestows  marked  praise  upon  his  wife  Sarah,  "  whose  courage," 
he  says,  "exceeded  her  stature,"  being  "indued  with  graces 
which  fitted  her  for  a  wilderness  condition,"  and  "  undergoing 
with  much  cheerfulness  the  difficulties  of  those  times  of 
straits." 

Previously  to  the  admission  of  Mr.  Symmes,  fifty-four  had 
been  received  into  the  church,  twenty-five  males  and  twenty- 
nine  females  ;  and  sixteen  had  been  baptized,  nine  males  and 
seven  females. 

In  about  a  year  after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Symmes,  the 
difficulty  between  the  church  and  their  pastor,  Mr.  James,  came 
to  a  crisis,  and  resulted  in  his  dismission. 

A  council  was  convened  in  March,  1636,  composed  princi- 
pally of  ministers,  who  were  sent  by  the  churches  as  being  best 
qualified  to  judge  in  the  case  of  a  fellow  minister. 

It  seems  that  Mr.  Symmes  and  many  of  the  brethren  had 
taken  offence  at  certain  remarks  of  the  pastor,  and  had  dealt 
with  him  both  in  public  and  private,  but  without  receiving 
satisfaction.  Upon  the  hearing  of  the  whole  case,  the  council 
judged  that  "  the  pastor  (by  his  natural  temper  a  melancholic 
man  and  subject  to  jealousies)  had  been  to  blame,  for  speaking 
as  of  certainty,   that  which   he   had   only  conceived  out  of 

1  Johnson's  Won.  Work.  Prov.  ch.  xxxii.  *  Mather's  Mag.  I.  414. 


40 

jealousy  ;  and  also  that  the  rest  had  not  been  without  all  fault, 
for  of  the  two  witnesses  produced  against  him,  one  was  the 
accuser.  They  advised,  therefore,  that  if  the  breach  could  not 
be  healed,  the  "  pastor  and  such  as  sided  with  him,  should  ask 
a  dismission,"  and  this  was  accordingly  done.^ 

Although  these  facts  compel  us  to  believe  that  Mr.  James 
was  chiefly  to  blame,  yet  the  distance  of  time  at  which  we  are 
removed  from  the  transaction,  should  cause  us  to  form  as  fa- 
vorable an  opinion  as  the  circumstances  will  allow. 

After  Mr.  James's  dismission,  which  may  be  dated  on  the  11th 
of  March,  1636,  he  removed  to  New  Haven,  where  he  was 
employed  in  teaching,  until  1642,  when  he  joined  Rev.  Mr. 
Knowles  of  Watertown,  and  Mr.  Thompson  of  Braintree,  who 
were  on  their  way  to  Virginia,  in  compliance  with  very  urgent 
letters  which  had  been  received  in  Boston  from  that  colony, 
requesting  that  able  and  pious  ministers  of  the  gospel  might  be 
sent  to  them.  They  were  received  very  aff"ectionately,  and 
gladly  heard  by  the  people,  but  returned  in  about  a  year,  in 
consequence  of  the  interference  of  the  government  of  the 
colony,  who  would  allow  none  but  such  as  were  episcopally 
ordained,  to  exercise  the  functions  of  a  Christian  minister.^ 

This  enterprise  is  interesting,  as  the  first  home  missionary 
undertaking,  and  awakened  deep  interest  at  that  time  in  Boston. 

After  this  Mr.  James  returned  to  England,  and  was  settled  in 
the  parish  church  of  Needham,  but  resigned  his  charge  August 
24,  1662,  because  he  could  not  in  conscience  approve  of  the 
ceremonies  which  were  then  imposed  upon  the  ministers  of  the 
established  church  in  conducting  the  public  worship.  After 
his  ejectment  he  gathered  a  Congregational  church,  and  had  a 
pretty  numerous  society.  He  lived  to  a  very  advanced  age, 
and  was  regarded  as  a  very  holy  good  man. 

It  is  a  painful  proof  of  the  extremes  to  which  religious  in- 
tolerance went  in  those  days,  that  "  when  he  died,  the  clergy- 
man who  came  in  his  place  would  not  allow  him  to  be  buried 
in  any  other  part  of  the  church-yard,  but  that  unconsecrated 
corner  left  for  rogues  and  excommunicates  ;  though  the  clergy- 
man owed  his  benefice  to  the  noble  uprightness  of  Mr.  James's 
heart."  ^ 


i  Hubb.  190.  Winthrop,  1. 182.      «  Bacon's  Hist.  Dis.  67.  Hubb.  410.       «  Prince,  413. 


41 

Some  writers  have  confounded  Mr.  James  with  his  son,  Rev. 
Thomas  James,  who  in  1648  was  settled  in  East  Hampton, 
Long  Island,  the  first  pastor  of  the  church  in  that  place, 
where  he  died,  1696.^  His  grave  is  to  this  day  an  object  of 
interest  to  strangers  who  visit  the  church-yard  of  that  ancient 
town,  from  the  peculiarity  of  its  situation ;  it  is  apart  by 
itself,  with  its  head-stone  towards  the  east,  while  all  the  other 
dead  are  laid  with  theirs  towards  the  west.  He  is  said  to 
have  been  a  faithful  and  successful  pastor,  and  that  to  fix  his 
counsels  in  the  hearts  of  his  people,  and  remind  them  that  they 
must  meet  him  again,  he  gave  it  in  charge  to  his  friends  on  his 
death-bed,  that  they  should  bury  him  (on  the  east  side  of  the 
grave-yard)  with  his  head  to  the  east,  in  the  opposite  direction 
from  that  in  which  his  people  were  laid,  that  in  the  morning  of 
the  resurrection  he  might  meet  them  face  to  face.^ 

For  the  purpose  of  exhibiting  the  state  of  religion  at  this 
period,  it  is  necessary  to  give  some  account  of  the  synod  of 
1637,  the  first  convened  in  New  England.  The  occasion  of 
this  assembly  was  the  dissemination  of  certain  religious  tenets, 
regarded  by  our  fathers  as  at  variance  with  the  gospel ;  they 
originated  with  Mrs.  Anne  Hutchinson,  who  came  to  this  *  J.^. 
country  in  the  same  ship  with  Rev.  Zechariah  Symmes. 

"  This  gentlewoman,"  says  Hubbard,  ''  was  of  a  nimble  wit, 
voluble  tongue,  eminent  knowledge  in  the  Scriptures,  of  great 
charity,  and  notable  helpfulness,  especially  in  such  occasions, 
where  those  of  that  sex  stand  in  need  of  the  mutual  help  of 
each  other ;  which  was  the  opportunity  usually  taken  for  in- 
sinuating into  the  spiritual  state  of  those  she  came  amongst, 
telling  them  of  the  danger  of  being  under  a  covenant  of  works  ; 
by  which  means  the  aifections  of  those  that  labored  under 
wants,  and  bodily  infirmities,  were  notably  prepared  to  become 
susceptible  of  any  moral  impressions ;  especially  such  as  seemed 
to  tend  to  the  exalting  of  free  grace,  and  depressing  of  the  crea- 
ture and  leaving  all  for  Christ  to  do,  and  as  when  the  devil 
attempted  to  ruin  mankind  by  the  insinuation  of  a  new  divinity, 
he  began  with  Eve,  and  by  her  surprised  her  husband  ;  the 
same  course  is  still  found  the  most  successful  for  that  end  :  and 
was  to  admiration  at  this  time  verified  in  and  about  Boston.""' 

»  Note  21.  2  New  York  Observer,  vol.  xx.  130.  3  Hubb.  Hist.  p.  283. 

6 


42 

It  is  not  necessary,  and  would  be  exceedingly  difficult  if  not 
impossible,  to  define  precisely  the  points  of  ditference  between 
the  Hutchinsonians  and  the  great  body  of  the  people  and  clergy 
who  opposed  them  ;  they  were,  when  theoretically  considered, 
extremely  subtile,  to  be  apprehended  by  those  only  Avhose 
minds  are  well  informed  on  theological  subjects  and  trained  to 
metaphysical  distinctions.  '"Tis  believed,"  says  Mather,  "that 
multitudes  of  persons,  who  took  in  with  both  parties  did  never 
to  their  dying  hour  understand  what  their  difference  was  :  by 
the  same  token,  in  the  height  and  heat  of  all  the  difference, 
when  some  ships  were  going  from  hence  into  England,  Mr. 
Cotton  in  the  whole  congregation,  advised  the  passengers  to 
tell  our  countrymen  at  home,  that  all  the  strife  here  was  about 
magnifying  the  grace  of  God ;  the  one  person  seeking  to  ad- 
vance the  grace  of  God  within  us,  as  to  sanctification  ;  and 
another  person  seeking  to  advance  the  grace  of  God  towards 
us,  as  to  justification  ;  and  Mr.  Wilson  stood  up  after  him,  de- 
claring on  the  other  side,  that  he  knew  none  that  did  not  labor 
to  advance  the  grace  of  God  in  both."  ^ 

But  notwithstanding  the  small  difference  of  the  opposing 
opinions,  and  "  though  the  truth  might  easily  have  united 
both,"  there  grew  at  length  to  be  a  wide  difference  in  doctrine 
as  well  as  spirit,  some  among  the  advocates  of  the  new  opinions 
falling  into  gross  and  destructive  errors  ;  this  however  may 
have  been  the  consequence  of  heated  controversy  and  partizan 
warfare.  It  is  incredible  at  the  present  day  Avhat  intense  ex- 
citement the  new  opinions  created,  and  to  what  extent  the  civil 
as  well  as  religious  affairs  of  the  colony  were  involved.  "  The 
expedition  against  the  Pequot  Indians  was  most  shamefully 
discouraged,  because  the  army  was  too  much  under  a  covenant 
of  works  ;  and  the  magistrates  began  to  be  contemned,  as  being 
of  a  legal  spirit,  and  having  therewithal  a  tang  of  anti-Christ  in 
them ;  nor  could  the  ordering  of  town  lots  or  town  rates,  or 
any  meetings  whatsoever  escape  the  confusions  of  this  contro- 
versy." ^ 

At  first  the  ministers,  "  awakened  by  these  noises  about  the 
temple,"  had  several  meetings,  but  without  efiect  in  composing 
the  differences  ;   and  then  the  General  Court  called  a  synod  of 

»  Magnalia,  II.  440.  »  Magnalia,  II.  441. 


43 

all  the  churches  in  the  country.  The  synod  met  at  Cambridge 
(then  called  Newtown)  30th  of  August,  1637,  and  was  com- 
posed of  about  twenty-five  ministers,  together  with  delegates 
from  the  churches,  and  the  magistrates  of  the  colony.  The 
moderators  were  the  Rev.  Thomas  Hooker,  of  Hartford,  and 
Rev.  Peter  Bulkley,  of  Concord,  "  two  as  able  and  judicious 
divines  as  any  the  country  afforded."  ^ 

In  the  first  place,  the  erroneous  opinions  that  were  prevailing 
among  the  people,  were  reported  to  the  assembly  by  a  com- 
mittee, and  then  were  debated  ;  one  day  was  given  for  the  de- 
fendants, another  for  the  opponents,  after  which  the  synod 
came  to  a  result.  Eighty-two  erroneous  opinions  and  expres- 
sions, which  had  been  uttered  in  the  country  by  several  men 
at  several  times,  were  condemned.  Some  were  offended  at  the 
number  of  the  errors  charged,  and  demanded  who  the  authors 
were ;  denying  that  such  errors  existed,  and  that  to  say  so  was 
a  slander  upon  the  country.  But  whatever  may  have  been  true 
in  regard  to  the  existence  or  prevalence  of  these  errors,  they 
were  condemned  by  the  synod  unanimously. 

After  this  a  conference  ensued  between  Mr.  Cotton,  teacher 
of  the  church  in  Boston,  who  was  regarded  as  having  encour- 
aged the  Hutchinsonians,  and  the  synod,  for  the  purpose  of 
establishing  an  agreement  between  this  great  divine  and  his 
brethren.  Five  questions  were  proposed  to  him,  respecting 
"  the  order  of  things  in  our  union  with  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ ; 
the  influence  of  our  faith  in  the  application  of  his  righteousness  ; 
the  use  of  our  sanctification  in  evidencing  our  justification ; 
and  the  consideration  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  by  men,  yet 
under  a  covenant  of  works."  ^ 

*'  In  the  first  handling  of  these  questions,"  says  Winthrop, 
''  either  party  delivered  their  arguments  in  writing,  which  were 
read  in  the  assembly,  and  after,  the  answers  to  them,  which 
spent  much  time  without  any  eftect ;  but  after  they  came  to 
open  dispute,  the  questions  were  soon  determined ;  for  so  they 
came  to  understand  each  other  better."  ^ 

Before  the  synod  broke  up,  on  the  last  day  of  the  session, 
the  public  exercising  of  women's  gffts,  in  a  set  assembly,  as 
had  been  the  practice  of  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  who  had  been  ac- 

>  Hubbard,  p.  299.  »  Magiialia,  II.  iU.  3  Winthrop's  Jour.  I.  239. 


44 

customed  to  meet  sixty  or  more  every  week,  to  resolve  ques- 
tions of  doctrine  and  expound  Scripture,  was  agreed  to  be 
disorderly  and  without  rule. 

It  had  also  been  the  custom  in  many  congregations  for  the 
ministers  to  allow  their  people  to  propose  questions  after  sermon, 
and  the  practice  having  given  rise  to  great  abuses ;  it  was  de- 
cided that  a  private  member  might  ask  a  question  publicly  for 
information,  yet  this  ought  to  be  done  wisely,  sparingly,  and 
with  leave  of  the  elders  ;  but  for  a  member  to  reprove  the 
doctrines  which  had  been  delivered,  and  reproach  the  ciders, 
and  that  with  bitterness,  was  utterly  condemned. 

In  looking  back  upon  the  religious  enthusiasm  of  this  period, 
we  may  characterize  the  sentiments  then  embraced  as  belong- 
ing to  the  Antinomian  school,  and  as  quite  similar  both  in  their 
origin  and  moral  influence,  to  the  doctrines  of  modern  perfec- 
tionism. 

Tlie  assembly  broke  up  on  the  22d  September,  and  on  the 
26th  Mr.  Davenport,  who  had  just  then  arrived  from  England, 
and  was  soon  after  settled  in  New  Haven,  preached  by  previous 
request  of  the  assembly  from  Phil.  iii.  16,  "  Nevertheless, 
whereunto  we  have  already  attained,  let  us  walk  by  the  same 
rule,  let  us  mind  the  same  thing."  He  laid  down  in  his  sermon 
''  the  occasion  of  differences  among  Christians,  declared  the 
effect  and  fruit  of  the  assembly,  and  with  much  wisdom  and 
sound  argument  persuaded  all  to  keep  the  unity  of  the  spirit 
in  the  bond  of  peace."  The  result  of  the  synod  was  in  an 
unusual  degree  productive  of  peace  in  the  churches  and  good 
order  in  the  community.^ 

After  the  dismission  of  Mr.  James,  Mr.  Symmes,  who  had 
been  settled  as  teacher,  became  the  pastor  of  the  church.  The 
office  of  teacher  was  vacant  for  about  three  years  ;  during  a 
part  of  this  time,  however,  the  Rev.  John  Harvard  supplied  the 
pulpit  as  an  assistant  to  Mr.  Symmes. 

This  gentleman,  whose  munificent  bequest  to  the  cause  of 
education  has  made  him  immortal  by  giving  his  name  to  the 
college  at  Cambridge,  was  admitted  a  member  of  this  church 
with  Anna  Harvard  his  wife,  6th  November,  1637,  having  on 

1  For  a  more  minute  account  of  the  synod,  see  Winthrop's  Journal,  I.  237.     Hubb.  Hist, 
ch.  xl.     Mather's  Mag.  11.  440.     1  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.  ix.  26. 


45 

the  6th  of  August  been  admitted  a  townsman,  "  with  promise 
of  such  accommodations  as  we  best  can." 

The  confidence  that  was  reposed  in  him  by  the  inhabitants, 
is  shown  by  their  vote  of  26th  of  April,  1638,  by  which  "  Mr. 
Increase  Nowell,  Mr.  Zechariah  Symmes,  Mr.  John  Greene, 
Mr.  John  Harvard,  Lieut.  Ralph  Sprague  and  William  Learned, 
were  desired  to  consider  of  something  tending  towards  a  body 
of  laws."  In  the  distribution  of  land  and  privileges  of  com- 
mons, he  was  among  the  most  favored  inhabitants.  The  house 
which  he  occupied  was  near  the  meeting-house  on  the  side  of 
this  hill,  and  was  subsequently  owned  by  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Shepard. 

Mr.  Harvard  received  the  degree  of  M.  A.  from  Emanuel 
college,  Cambridge,^  and  died  of  consumption  in  this  place, 
September  14,  1638.  The  sum  which  he  bequeathed  to  the 
college  was  half  his  estate,  and  amounted  probably  to  £779, 
17s.  2d. 

Johnson,  who  must  have  known  him,  as  well  as  heard  him 
preach,  has  composed  a  few  verses  upon  him ;  the  sentiment 
of  which  is,  that  "  If  Harvard  could  have  been  satisfied  with 
the  enjoyment  of  earthly  riches,  he  would  never  have  crossed 
the  ocean;  but  the  glory  of  Christ  had  so  attracted  him,  that 
nothing  would  content  his  soul,  short  of  an  experience  of  his 
love.  And  then  he  calls  upon  him  from  the  midst  of  his  hea- 
venly joys  to  tell  of  his  blessedness  among  the  saints.  He  says 
that  Harvard  preached  and  prayed  with  tears,  and  evidences  of 
strong  affection,  and  that  his  own  heart  had  been  delighted 
with  his  ministrations.  Scarce  had  he  opened  his  eyes  upon" 
the  churches  of  Christ  here,  before  he  was  called  to  eye  that 
Saviour  face  to  face ;  death  drew  him  away  from  his  scanty 
joys  on  earth,  because  the  full  joy  for  which  he  longed  could 
only  be  found  in  heaven."  ^ 

The  precise  spot  of  his  interment  is  at  present  unknown ;  but 
the  summit  of  the  burying  hill  has  been  appropriated  to  a 
monument  to  his  memory  erected  by  the  graduates  of  the  col- 


1  Harvard  received  his  first  degree,,  1631,  and  became  M.   A.  1635.    See  Hisl.  Coll.  3d 
Series,  vol.  7. 

2  Won.  Work.  Prov.  B.  ii.  ch.  xii. 


46 

lege,  to  which  he  has  given  his  name,  and  of  which  he  is  justly 
regarded  as  the  founder. 

After  the  death  of  Harvard,  which  took  place  on  the  14th  of 
September,  1638,^  Mr.  Symmes  was  left  without  any  stated 
helper  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  until  about  the  year  1640, 
when  the  Rev.  Thomas  Allen  was  chosen  and  ordained  teacher 
of  this  church. 

This  gentleman  was  born  in  the  city  of  Norwich,  England, 
in  1608,  received  his  education  in  Caius  college  in  Cambridge, 
and  afterwards  became  minister  of  St.  Edmund's  in  his  native- 
city  ,•  he  was  silenced  by  Bishop  Wren  in  1636  for  refusing  to 
read  the  Book  of  Sports.  He  came  to  this  country  at  the  age 
of  thirty,  and  became  a  member  of  this  church  December  22, 
1639 ;  the  date  of  his  ordination  has  not  been  preserved,  but  it 
was  probably  in  this  or  the  following  month.^ 

The  number  admitted  to  the  church  during  the  preceding 
five  years  from  December  22,  1634,  when  Mr.  Symmes  was 
ordained,  to  December  22,  1639,  was  one  hundred  and  three, 
forty-five  males  and  fifty-eight  females  ,*  the  number  baptized 
was  seventy-three,  thirty-six  of  whom  were  males. 

During  the  period  of  ten  or  eleven  years,  in  which  Mr,  Allen 
discharged  the  duties  of  teacher  to  the  church,  there  is  little 
certain  information  to  be  obtained  respecting  the  state  of  reli^ 
gion.  The  devoted  Eliot  was  successfully  prosecuting  his 
labors  among  the  Indians,  and  his  mission  must  have  been 
calling  forth  the  prayers  and  benefactions  of  our  fathers.  And 
it  was  during  this  period,  in  1648,  that  the  churches  were 
'csdled  together  in  their  second  general  synod,  to  form  their 
ecclesiastical  constitution.  When  our  fathers  arrived  here, 
their  views  of  church  government  and  order,  were  as  indeter- 
minate, as  their  views  in  respect  to  civil  government.  There 
was  no  little  diversity  among  them  at  first,  and  the  unanimity 
of  views  that  prevailed  was  chiefly  owing  to  the  powerful  in- 
fluence of  Mr.  John  Cotton,  teacher  of  the  church  in  Boston, 
whose  book  entitled  "The  Book  of  the  Keys,"  was  by  general 
consent  adopted  as  a  guide  in  regard  to  the  order  of  the 
churches. 

It   seemed   desirable   that  the    views  and   practices  of  the 

I  Note  13.  2  Note  22. 


\y 


47 

churches  should  be  harmonized,  and  a  general  directory  formed 
for  the  guidance  of  the  churches  in  future.  Accordingly  the 
General  Court  passed  a  bill  convening  a  synod,  by  way  of  in- 
vitation to  the  churches,  rather  than  express  command.  Letters 
were  sent  to  the  churches  in  the  Plymouth  and  Connecticut 
jurisdictions,  and  on  the  15th  of  August,  1648,  the  council  as- 
sembled, and  in  less  than  fourteen  days  completed  the  work 
assigned  them.  For  the  present,  instead  of  framing  for  them- 
selves a  confession  of  faith,  they  received,  for  substance  of  doc-  \'\ 
trine,  the  one  which  had  then  been  recently  set  forth  by  the  :  •' 
assembly  of  divines  at  Westminster. 

"  Our  churches  here,"  say  they,  "  as,  by  the  grace  of  Christ, 
we  believe  and  profess  the  same  doctrine  of  the  truth  of  the 
gospel,  which  generally  is  received  in  all  the  reformed  churches 
of  Christ  in  Europe,  so  especially  we  desire  not  to  vary  from 
the  doctrine  of  faith  and  truth  held  forth  by  the  churches  of 
our  native  country.  Now  by  this  our  professed  consent  and 
free  concurrence  with  them  in  all  the  doctrinals  of  religion,  we 
hope  it  may  appear  to  the  world,  that  as  we  axe  a  remnant  of 
the  people  of  the  same  nation  with  them,  so  we  are  professors 
of  the  same  common  faith,  and  fellow-heirs  of  the  same  com- 
mon salvation." 

From  the  framers  of  the  Westminster  Confession,  however, 
and  the  dominant  party  in  England  at  that  time,  who  were 
Presbyterians,  they  differed  in  regard  to  their  principles  of  Y-l 
church  order  and  discipline.  The  chief  points  of  difference 
were  these  two ;  that  none  but  visible  saints  should  be  received 
to  the  seals  or  sacraments ;  and  that  the  decisions  of  the  pres- 
bytery or  classis,  should  be  only  advisory,  and  not  authoritative, 
the  consent  of  the  brotherhood  being  necessary  to  make  an  act 
binding. 

The  Cambridge  Platform,  in  which  this  synod  resulted,  is  a 
lucid  exposition  of  the  principles  of  primitive  Congregationalism ; 
it  became,  so  far  as  the  independency  of  our  churches  would 
allow,  the  religious  constitution  of  New  England ;  and  such 
in  the  main  it  still  continues  to  be.^    In  point  of  execution  it  is 

'  See  note  23.  We  are  told  by  Mather  that  Mr.  John  Cotton,  Mr.  Richard  Mather,  and 
Mr.  Ralph  Partridge  were  appointed  by  the  synod,  each  of  them  to  draw  up  a  Scriptural 
model  of  church  government,  and  that  it  was  chiefly  out  of  Mr.  Mather's  model  the  Platform 
was  taken.    Mather,  vol.  I.  p.  409,  II.  182. 


48 

unrivalled  ;  no  document  of  the  kind  can  be  produced  exhibi- 
ting more  discrimination,  or  greater  precision  and  strength  of 
style  ;  and  the  principles,  by  which  it  is  characterized,  are  a 
perfect  vindication  of  our  fathers  from  the  charge  of  a  selfish 
and  aspiring  ambition.  No  unprejudiced  man  can  read  this 
constitution  of  our  churches  without  being  convinced  that  its 
framers  were  men  of  elevated  principles,  as  free  from  self-seek- 
ing, as  they  were  opposed  to  the  exercise  of  arbitrary  power  in 
others.^  In  the  possession  of  solid  learning  and  commanding 
abilities,  they  were  too  sure  of  possessing  a  better  sort  of  influ- 
ence, to  hanker  after  that  which  is  attached  to  place,  and  con- 
ferred by  human  enactment. 

As  I  remarked  in  the  last  Lecture,  most  of  our  churches  were 
formerly  supplied  with  a  teacher,  a  pastor,  and  one  or  more 
ruling  elders.  In  the  Platform,  it  is  maintained  that  "  the 
ofRce  of  pastor  and  teacher  is  distinct.  The  pastor's  special 
work  is,  to  attend  to  exhortation,  and  therein  to  administer  a 
word  of  wisdom  ;  the  teacher  is  to  attend  to  doctrine,  and 
therein  to  administer  a  word  of  knowledge  ;  and  either  of  them 
to  administer  the  seals  of  the  covenant."  And  then  they  assert 
that  "  forasmuch  as  both  pastors  and  teachers  are  given  by 
Christ  for  the  perfecting  of  the  saints,  and  edifying  of  his  body," 
they  should  both  be  considered  church  officers,  and  not  the 
pastor  for  the  church,  and  the  teacher  for  the  schools.  One  of 
the  most  prominent  peculiarities  of  our  fathers  was  an  attach- 
ment to  a  learned  ministry  ;  it  was  their  aim — and  in  it  they 
were  successful — to  have  '  a  scholar  to  their  minister  in  every 
village  ; '  it  was  not  enough  for  them  to  be  exhorted  and 
excited  by  extempore  appeals  from  the  sacred  desk ;  they 
looked  to  their  ministry  also  for  sound  instruction,  and  treas- 
ures that  were  new  as  well  as  old.  The  religion  they  professed 
was  eminently  a  thoughtful  one  ; — its  foundations  were  laid  in 
a  personal  examination  of  the  word  of  God  ;  its  superstructure 
was  raised  of  truth  cemented  with  searching  intelligence  ; — a 
religion  as  unlike  to  that  which  usurps  the  name  of  orthodoxy 

>  "  The  New  England  Platform  of  church  discipline,"  says  Dr.  Eliot,  "  composed  at  the 
desire  of  the  people  by  laymen  and  ministers,  contains  ideas  as  favorable  to  the  wishes  of 
the  brethren  as  the  pastors.  In  all  disputes,  where  the  ministers  have  been  accused  of  making 
an  improper  use  of  their  powers,  or  usurping  authority,  recourse  has  been  had  to  their  foun- 
dation of  church  government,  and  generally  their  opposers  have  been  successful."  1  Mass. 
Hist.  Soc.  Coll.  X.  2. 


49 

in  many  places,  as  is  the  rank  and  colorless  mushroom  unlike 
the  oak  !  The  spirit  of  Puritan  piety  was  a  spirit  of  thought, 
of  investigation,  of  learning. 

Accordingly,  during  the  earlier  periods  of  the  history  of  this 
church,  the  congregation  enjoyed  the  labors  of  two  ministers, 
one  of  whom  was  to  instruct  them  with  thoroughly  studied 
sermons  on  the  great  problems  of  human  life  and  salvation,  the 
other  to  exhort  them  and  visit  them  as  a  pastor.  They  did 
not  expect  both  of  these  services  from  one  and  the  same  indi- 
vidual. They  respected  themselves  too  much  to  believe  that 
they  could  be  instructed  by  the  easy  labors  of  a  man  who  was 
spending  the  greater  part  of  his  time  in  visiting  them  during 
the  week.  Their  teacher  they  expected  to  be  a  student,  and 
to  make  him  such,  they  asked  but  one  discourse  a-week  from 
him,  and  released  him  from  the  burden  of  pastoral  visitations. 
What  a  contrast  to  the  conduct  of  some  few  in  our  churches  at 
the  present  day  !  The  duties  of  the  teacher  and  pastor  have 
been  united ;  the  labors  that  were  anciently  assigned  to  two 
educated  men,  are  now  imposed  upon  one,  and  this  too  when 
the  number  of  souls  committed  to  his  charge  is  twice  as  great, 
when  the  number  of  services  expected  from  him  on  the  Sab- 
bath and  during  the  week  is  much  greater,  and  when  he  is 
under  a  moral  necessity  of  devoting  no  small  portion  of  his 
time  and  thoughts  to  one  or  more  of  the  great  benevolent  asso- 
ciations of  the  age.  Some,  however,  are  found  complaining  of 
their  minister,  because  his  sermons  are  not  replete  with  such 
instruction  and  eloquence  as  would  require  at  least  a  week's 
labor  ;  or  else  because  his  visits  are  not  as  frequent  as  they 
suppose  his  duty  and  his  usefulness  require. 

In  addition  to  the  teacher  and  pastor,  each  church  was  also 
supplied  with  a  ruling  elder,  who  was  commonly  an  educated 
man,  but  did  not  derive  a  salary  from  his  office.  His  duty  was 
"  to  join  with  the  pastor  and  teacher  in  those  acts  of  spiritual 
rule,  which  are  distinct  from  the  ministry  of  the  word  and 
sacraments  committed  to  them." 

The  ruling  elder  of  this  church,  and  the  only  one  it  ever  had, 
was  Mr.  John  Greene,  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influen- 
tial inhabitants  of  the  town,  but  of  his  election  or  ordination 
no  record  exists.  He  came  to  this  country  in  1632,  and  united 
with  the  church  March  29,  1633,  shortly  after  its  organization, 
7 


60 

and  was  probably  soon  after  chosen  elder,  since  the  records  of 
the  church  are  in  his  hand-writing  from  its  formation  down  to 
the  period  of  his  death,  which  took  place  April  22,  1658.  His 
hand- writing  occurs  frequently  upon  the  records  of  the  town  as 
well  as  the  church ;  it  is  so  distinct  and  beautiful,  that  it  can 
be  read  with  perfect  ease  even  now  after  the  lapse  of  more  than 
two  hundred  years.  .  His  grave  is  on  the  highest  part  of  the 
burying  hill,  and  is  covered  by  a  tablet,  which  is  now  lying 
level  Avith  the  ground  and  partly  overgrown  with  grass  at  the 
foot  of  Harvard's  monument.  The  tablet  contains  the  follow- 
ing inscription. 

"  Here  lieth  the  body  of  Mr.  John  Greene,  born  at   London 
in  Old  England,  who  married  Perseverance,  the  daughter  of 

Johnson,^   in   Amsterdam,    by   whom   he   had    six 

children ;  with  whom  and  their  children  he  came  to  Charles- 
town,  in  New  England,  in  1632,  was  ruling  elder  of  the  chm'ch, 
and  deceased  April  22,  1658,  aged  65,  leaving  behind  two  sons 
and  one  daughter,  viz.,  John,  Jacob  and  Mary,  who  erected  this 
monument  to  the  memory  of  him  and  his  wife,  their  father  and 
mother." 

I  shall  carry  the  history  of  the  church  no  farther  in  this  dis- 
course than  the  close  of  Mr.  Allen,  the  teacher's  ministry. 
This  took  place  about  the  year  1650.  But  there  is  no  record 
left  us  of  the  exact  time  of  his  dismission,  or  of  the  causes 
which  led  to  it.  We  have  no  reason,  however,  to  think  that 
there  was  any  alienation  of  feeling  between  the  teacher  and  his 
flock.  Cotton  Mather  says  that  he  approved  himself  a  pious 
and  painful  minister  of  the  gospel  in  this  place,  and  was  greatly 
beloved,  as  his  name  Allen  imports,  which  is  the  English  pro- 
nunciation of  the  Saxon  word  alwme,  or  beloved  of  all.  After 
his  return  to  England,  he  settled  again  in  the  ministry  in  the 
city  of  Norwich,  but  was  again  silenced  in  1662  in  consequence 
of  non-conformity  to  the  ceremonies  of  the  church.  After  this 
he  preached  upon  all  occasions  that  offered,  in  a  Congregational 
church  in  that  city  till  the  time  of  his  death,  September  21, 
1673,  aged  65. 

Dr.  Calamy  says  he  was   "  a  religious,  able,  practical  preach- 

1  'I'he  Chrktian  name  of  IMr.  Johnson  is  obliterated  from  the  tombstone.  I  think  I  can  de- 
tect the  final  letter  s  however.  This  confirms  me  in  the  opinion  that  Rev.  Francis  Johnson, 
pastor  of  the  English  Puritan  church  in  Amsterdam  is  meant ;  of  whom,  see  notices  in 
Young's  Chronicles  of  the  Pilgrims. 


61 

er."  He  composed  and  printed  twice  in  this  countiy  a  treatise 
entitled,  "  An  invitation  to  thirsty  sinners  to  come  unto  their 
Saviour."  He  also  began  a  work  in  this  country,  which  was 
highly  spoken  of  for  usefulness  and  learning,  called  a  "  Chain 
of  Scripture  Chronology,"  which  he  afterwards  published  in 
London,  in  1659.^  He  also  published  a  treatise  on  "  The  way 
of  the  Spirit  in  bringing  souls  to  Christ,"  and  several  sermons 
on  the  glory  of  Christ,  and  the  necessity  of  faith.  There  is 
also  extant  a  letter  of  Mr.  Allen's,  dated  Norwich,  January  8, 
1652,  in  which  he  bears  testimony  to  the  reality  of  the  pro- 
gress of  the  gospel  among  the  Indians  of  New  England,  which 
seems  at  that  time  to  have  been  called  in  question.- 

From  the  period  of  Mr.  Allen's  admission  to  the  church  to 
May,  1650,  one  hmidred  and  twenty-three  persons  were  ad- 
mitted to  the  church.  In  the  year  1651,  when  Mr.  Allen 
returned  to  England,  there  are  no  admissions  recorded.  The 
number  of  baptisms  registered  is  only  seventy-three ;  but  the 
baptismal  record  is  imperfect,  stopping  with  September  20, 
1642,  after  which  for  a  period  of  seventeen  years  but  one  or 
two  records  are  made,  and  these  seem  to  have  been  entered  by 
Mr.  Symmes.  For  what  reason  elder  Greene  ceased  to  enter 
the  baptisms  after  1642,  while  he  continued  to  record  admis- 
sions to  the  church  until  1656,  it  is  in  vain  to  conjecture. 

Here  1  will  drop  the  narrative,  after  I  have  given  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  town,  written  by  Captain  Johnson,  while  Mr.  Allen 
was  still  teacher,  about  1650. 

"  The  town  of  Charlestown  is  situated  on  the  north  side  of 
Charles  river,  from  which  it  took  its  name,  the  river  being 
about  five  or  six  fathom  deep ;  over  against  the  town,  many 
small  islands  lying  to  the  sea-ward  of  it,  and  hills  on  either 
side.  By  which  means  it  proves  a  very  good  harbor  for  ships, 
which  hath  caused  many  seamen  and  merchants  to  sit  down 
there.  The  form  of  this  town,  in  the  frontispiece  thereof,  is 
like  the  head,  neck  and  shoulders  of  a  man,  only  the  pleasant 
and  navigable  river  of  Mystick  runs  through  the  right  shoulder 
thereof,  and  by  its  near  approach  to  Charles  river  in  one  place 
makes  a  very  narrow  neck,  by  which  means  the  chief  part  of 

1  A  copy  of  this  work  is  in  possession  of  Rev.  William  Jenks,  D.  D.,of  Rostoii,  wliicJi  was 
presented  by  the  author  to  Governor  Bellinehairi.  and  contains  bis  autograph. 
«  3  Hist.  CoU.  iv.  194.    See  Note  24. 


52 

the  town,  whereon  the  most  building  stands,  becomes  a  penin- 
sula. It  hath  a  large  market  place  near  the  water-side,  built 
round  with  houses,  comely  and  fair,  forth  of  which  there  issue 
two  streets  orderly  built  with  some  very  fair  houses,  beautified 
with  pleasant  gardens  and  orchards.  The  whole  town  consists 
in  its  extent  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  dwelling-houses. 
Their  meeting-house  for  Sabbath  assembly  stands  in  the 
market  place,  very  comely  built  and  large  ;  the  officers  of  this 
church  are  at  this  day  one  pastor,  one  teacher,  and  one  ruling 
elder,  and  three  deacons  ;  the  number  of  souls  about  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty.  Wonderful  it  is  to  see  that  in  so  short  a  time 
such  great  alterations  Christ  should  work  for  these  poor  people 
of  his.  Their  corn  land  in  tillage  in  this  town  is  about  1,200 
acres,  their  great  cattle  are  about  400  head,  sheep  near  upon 
400 ;  as  for  their  horse  you  shall  hear  of  them,  God  willing, 
when  we  come  to  speak  of  their  military  discipline."  ^ 

The  same  writer  incidentally  mentions  "  that  a  most  terrible 
fire  happened  in  Charlestown,  in  the  depth  of  the  winter  of 
1650,  and  was  blown  by  a  violent  wind  from  one  house  to 
another  to  the  consuming  of  the  fairest  houses  in  the  town." 
This  is  the  earliest  mention  of  devastation  by  an  element  from 
which  this  town  has  suffered  more  than  any  other  in  the  Com- 
monwealth. 

I  will  bring  this  Lecture  to  a  conclusion  by  just  observing, 
that  the  brief  account  we  have  already  given  of  the  early  his- 
tory of  our  fathers,  shows  with  what  singular  earnestness  and 
devotion  they  had  consecrated  themselves  to  the  service  of 
religion.  Nothing  more  clearly  evinces  this  than  the  constitu- 
tion of  their  churches.  Out  of  their  deep  poverty,  and  when 
they  were  but  a  little  band,  they  cheerfully  supported  two 
thoroughly  educated  men,  that  they  might  enjoy  the  fulness  of 
the  blessings  of  the  gospel  of  Christ.  No  people,  probably, 
ever  made  greater  sacrifices  than  did  our  fathers  for  the  support 
of  religious  institutions.  "  My  fathers  and  brethren,"  says 
Higginson,  pastor  of  the  church  in  Salem,  in  1663,  "  this  is 
never  to  be  forgotten  that  New  England  is  originally  a  plan- 
tation of  religion^  not  a  plantation  of  trade.  Let  merchants 
and  such  as  are  increasing  cent,  per  cent,  remember  this.     Let 

•  2  Hist.  Coll.  II.  89, 


63 

others  who  have  come  over  since  at  several  times  understand 
this,  that  worldly  gain  was  not  the  end  and  design  of  the  peo- 
ple of  New  England,  but  religion.  And  if  any  man  amongst 
us  make  religion  as  twelve^  and  the  world  as  thirteen,  let  such 
an  one  know  he  hath  neither  the  spirit  of  a  true  New  England 
man,  nor  yet  of  a  sincere  Christian." 


LECTURE    III. 


1  Ki  NGS   viii.   57,   68. 

The  lord  ocr  god  be  with  us,  as  he  was  with  our  fathers:  let  him  not 
leave  us,  nor  forsake  us  :  that  he  may  incline  our  hearts  unto  him,  to 
walk  in  all  his  ways,  and  to  keep  his  commandments,  and  his  statutes, 
and  his  judgments,  which  he  commanded  our  fathers. 

In  the  last  Lecture  we  pursued  the  history  of  the  church, 
down  to  the  close  of  Mr.  Allen's  ministry  in  1650.  In 
following  the  thread  of  the  narrative  to  the  death  of  Mr. 
Symmes  in  1670,  I  shall  have  occasion  to  call  your  attention 
to  the  first  case  of  discipline  on  our  church  records,  which 
resulted  in  the  formation  of  the  First  Baptist  church  in  Boston, 
and  also  to  the  origin  and  nature  of  the  so  called  half-way 
covenant,  which  had  its  commencement  in  the  provisions  of 
the  synod  of  1662. 

After  the  return  of  Mr.  Allen  to  England,  the  church  was 
without  a  teacher  until  1659,  when  the  Rev.  Thomas  Shepard, 
son  of  the  famous  minister  of  the  same  name  in  Cambridge, 
was  ordained  to  this  office.  For  the  period  of  eight  or  nine 
years  therefore,  Mr.  Symmes  was  left  alone  in  the  ministry, 
with  only  such  temporary  assistance  as  the  church  were  able 
to  procure  from  time  to  time. 

Mr.  Shepard  was  admitted  to  this  church  on  the  31st  of 
October,  1658,  by  a  dismission  from  the  church  in  Cambridge. 
The  account  of  his  ordination  is  thus  recorded  by  Mr.  Symmes 
under  the  date  of  13th  of  April,  1659. 

"  Mr.  Thomas  Shepard  was  ordained  with  prayer  and  fast- 
ing unto  the  office  of  a  teacher  to  the  church  of  Christ  in 
Charlestown,  by  me  Zachariah  Symmes,  pastor  to  the  same 
church,  Mr.  John  Wilson  pastor  to  the  church  of  Christ  in 
Boston,  and  Mr.  Richard  Mather,  teacher  to  the  church  of 
Christ  in  Dorchester,  at  the  desire  of  our  church  joining  with 


55 

me  in  laying  on  of  hands  upon  the  aforesaid  Mr.  Thomas 
Shepard ;  and  Mr.  Norton,  teacher  to  the  church  at  Boston,  in 
the  name  of  the  rest  of  the  messengers  of  four  churches,  to 
wit  of  Boston,  Roxbury,  Cambridge,  Watertown,  giving  unto 
him  the  right  hand  of  fellowship." 

There  was  not  perhaps  among  the  many  distinguished  and 
excellent  ministers  in  the  days  of  our  fathers,  one  more 
admired  and  beloved,  than  Thomas  Shepard  of  Cambridge, 
who  came  to  this  country  in  1635,  bringing  with  him  his 
infant  son  Thomas.  He  was  received  by  the  people  with 
the  greatest  pleasure,  and  soon  after  his  arrival,  settled  in 
Cambridge  over  a  new  church  composed  of  the  people  that 
came  with  him  and  perhaps  a  few  members  remaining  of  the 
original  church,  who,  with  their  pastor  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Hooker,  had  gone  to  Hartford.  Mr.  Shepard  died  in  1649,  at 
the  age  of  43,  when  his  son  Thomas  was  but  a  youth  of  14, 
just  completing  his  first  year  of  collegiate  study.  He  gradu- 
ated in  1653,  and  was  one  of  the  first  fruits  of  the  college,  as 
well  as  one  of  the  most  distinguished  of  those  who  received 
their  education  in  this  country.  He  was  born  in  London, 
April  5,  1635,  but  was  baptized  in  New  England  in  the  follow- 
ing February. 

The  settlement  of  Mr.  Shepard  was  undoubtedly  a  happy 
one ;  his  father's  reputation,  and  the  kindred  virtues  of  his 
own  character,  must  have  greatly  excited  the  expectations  of 
the  people ;  nor  were  these  hopes  disappointed,  except  by  an 
early  death,  which  cut  him  off  in  the  vigor  of  life.  But 
the  period  of  Mr.  Shepard's  ministry  was  not  one  of  entire 
harmony  and  peace.  Religious  differences,  which  had  existed 
to  some  degree  from  the  first,  were  becoming  wider  in  the 
minds  of  the  children  of  the  new  generation,  who  had  never 
felt  for  each  other  that  close  sympathy,  which  bound  the  hearts 
of  their  fathers  together,  and  which  was  the  result  of  their 
common  trials  of  faith  and  character. 

One  of  the  most  decided  tendencies  of  the  Puritan  faith  and 
worship,  was  to  excite  the  activity  of  the  mind,  and  impel 
individuals  to  an  examination  of  their  religious  doctrines  and 
usages.  Nothing  therefore  might  have  been  predicted  with 
greater  certainty,  than  that  a  diversity  of  speculative  vieAvs 
would  ensue,  after  the  pressure  of  persecution  had  ceased  to 


56 

unite  them  by  keeping  their  minds  directed  to  a  common 
danger.  But  our  fathers  did  not  expect  this,  and  they  were 
not  prepared  to  meet  the  emergency.  They  imagined  that 
their  views  were  so  scriptural,  and  their  principles  of  govern- 
ment so  just,  that  all  dissent  and  resistance  must  spring  from 
impure  motives.  The  age  in  which  they  lived,  had  not  yet 
wrought  out  the  problem  how  to  unite  toleration  with  a  vigor- 
ous defence  of  the  truth  ;  but  they  were  upon  the  verge  of 
that  discovery,  the  twilight  of  the  truth  was  about  them,  and 
hence  the  spirit  of  persecution  appeared  in  them  the  more 
prominent  and  lamentable. 

The  subject  of  controversy  in  the  church  at  this  time  was 
baptism  ;  and  when  the  somewhat  casual  and  indecisive  man- 
ner in  which  the  Bible  speaks  of  this  rite,  is  considered,  it  is  no 
wonder  that  a  difference  of  opinion  should  exist  in  regard  to  it. 
Toleration  on  this  point  at  least  should  be  practised,  as  well  as 
modesty  in  the  expression  of  opinion. 

The  earliest  case  of  discipline  on  record,  is  that  of  Thomas 
Gould,  a  brother  of  this  church,  admitted  to  its  communion 
June  7,  1640,  who,  together  with  Thomas  Osborn,  had  em- 
braced the  sentiments  of  the  Baptists.  He  refused  to  bring  his 
child  forward  for  baptism,  and  in  consequence  of  being  ad- 
monished by  the  church,  withdrew  from  its  communion.  The 
first  account  we  have  of  the  dealings  of  the  church  with  him, 
is  under  the  date  of  June  6,  1658.  It  was  written  by  Mr. 
Symmes — Mr.  Green,  the  ruling  elder,  having  died  about  two 
months  before  ;  and  as  it  is  the  only  document  left  us  by  Mr. 
Symmes — Mr.  Shepard,  after  his  ordination  recording  the 
transactions  of  the  church — I  will  transcribe  it.  It  is  also  in- 
teresting and  important  in  itself,  inasmuch  as  it  gave  rise  to  a 
Baptist  church,  now  the  First  Baptist  church  in  Boston. 

"  Upon  the  6th  of  4th,  1658. 

"  Brother  Thomas  Gold,  according  to  the  agreement  of  the 
church  the  Lord's  day  before,  was  called  forth  to  give  an 
account  of  his  long-  withdrawing  from  the  public  ordinances 
amongst  us,  on  the  Lord's  day.  It  was  asked  brother  Gold, 
whither  he  had  any  rule  from  God's  word  so  to  do  ?  or  whither 
it  were  not  a  manifest  breach  of  rule  and  order  of  the  gospel  ? 
"  His  answer  several  times  was  to  this  effect,  that  he  had  not 


57 

turned  from  any  ordinance  of  God,  but  did  attend  the  word  in 
other  places. 

"  It  was  then  asked  him,  whither  he  did  not  own  church- 
covenant,  as  an  ordinance  of  God,  and  himself  in  covenant 
with  this  church  ? 

"  He  answered  he  did,  but  we  had  cut  him  off,  or  put  him 
away  by  denying  to  him  the  Lord's  Supper,  when  only  he  had 
been  admonished,  and  so  now  had  no  more  privilege  than  an 
Indian,  and  therefore  he  looked  not  now  at  himself  as  a  mem- 
ber of  our  church,  but  was  free  to  go  any  whither. 

"  He  was  likewise  blamed,  that  having  so  often  expressed 
his  desire  to  attend  any  light  that  might  help  him  in  his  judg- 
ment and  practice,  about  children'' s  baptism;  that  yet  he  should 
forbear,  and  stay  away,  when  he  could  not  but  know,  that  his 
pastor  was  speaking  largely  to  that  subject.  He  confest  his 
wife  told  him  of  it :  and  being  asked  how  he  could  in  faith 
partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  whilst  he  judged  his  own  baptism 
void  and  null  ?  he  owned  it  was  so,  as  administered  to  him  as 
a  child  ;  but  since  God  had  given  him  grace,  he  now  came  to 
make  use  of  it,  and  get  good  by  it.  It  being  replied  that  a 
person  owned  by  all,  as  gracious,  and  fit  for  (the)  Supper,  is 
not  yet  to  be  admitted  to  it,  till  baptized :  he  said  little  or 
nothing  to  it,  but  spake  divers  things,  generally  offensive  to  the 
brethren,  and  would  own  no  failing.  Hence  after  much  time 
spent,  the  brethren  consenting,  he  was  admonished  for  breaking 
away  from  the  church,  in  way  of  schism,  never  having  used 
any  means  to  convince  the  church  of  any  irregular  proceeding, 
but  continuing  peremptorily  and  contumaciously  to  justifie  his 
schism. 

"  This  transaction  was  speedily  after  the  acting  thereof 
truly  recorded  by  the  then  only  elder  of  this  church ;  Zech. 
Symmes,  Mr.  Green  the  ruling  elder  dying  a  little  before." 

The  course  of  discipline  thus  begun,  was  carried  on  for  a 
series  of  years,  and  the  several  steps  duly  recorded  by  Mr. 
Shepard.  Repeated  admonitions  were  given  by  the  church 
but  with  no  effect,  until  at  length  in  16G5,  Thomas  Gould,  and 
Thomas  Osborn,  together  with  a  few  other  anabaptists,  em- 
bodied themselves  into  a  church ;  after  this  they  denied  the 
authority  of  the  church  to  summon  them  to  appear  before  it 
and  gave  three  reasons  for  refusing  to  hold  communion  with 
8 


58 

us,  viz.,  "  1,  Because  of  infant  baptism.  2.  Our  allowing  none 
but  such  as  had  human  learning  to  be  in  the  ministry.  3. 
Our  severe  dealing  with  those  of  a  contrary  judgment  from  us." 

Notwithstanding  the  refusal  of  these  persons  to  appear,  the 
church  voted  to  wait  upon  them  with  longer  patience  ;  and  it 
was  not  until  July,  1665,  after  repeated  efforts  made  during  a 
period  of  seven  years,  that  they  proceeded  to  the  sentence  of 
excommunication. 

It  deserves  to  be  remarked  here,  that  this  act  of  excommuni- 
cation was  not  passed  against  them,  on  the  ground  of  heresy  or 
a  difference  of  views  on  the  subject  of  baptism ;  but  solely,  in 
the  words  of  the  vote,  "  for  their  impenitency  in  their  schis- 
matical  withdrawing  from  the  church,  and  neglecting  to  hear 
the  church."  They  had  broken  their  covenant,  and  denied 
all  connection  with  us ;  and  this  is  held  now  as  much  as 
formerly,  to  be  a  sufficient  ground  for  the  highest  censure  of  the 
church.  We  freely  concede  that  a  difference  of  views  upon 
the  subject  of  baptism  is  not  sufficient  ground  for  excommuni- 
cation ;  and  there  is  no  evidence  that  it  was  ever  regarded  as 
such  by  the  church.  Nor  is  there  any  reason  why  peedo  and 
anti-pffido  baptists  should  not  commune  together,  unless  such 
undue  importance  is  given  to  baptism,  as  to  lead  the  parties  to 
deny  each  other's  church  membership. 

But  the  moderation  of  the  church  in  their  proceedings, 
evinces  a  better  spirit  than  generally  prevailed  around  them  ; 
and  although  they  partook  to  some  degree  of  the  spirit  of  per- 
secution, it  is  chargeable  to  ignorance  and  the  temper  of  the 
age,  rather  than  to  bigotry  and  the  love  of  persecution. 

Gould  and  his  associates  were  arraigned  before  the  court  of 
assistants  and  admonished  for  their  '^  schismatical  rending  of 
the  communion  of  the  churches,"  and  "  setting  up  a  public 
meeting  in  opposition  to  the  will  of  the  magistrates."  After  this, 
they  were  imprisoned  for  disobedience  to  the  laws  of  the  colony. 
It  is  due,  however,  to  the  character  of  our  fathers  to  state,  that 
this  execution  of  the  laws  by  the  public  courts  aroused  a  sense 
of  injustice  in  their  breasts.  Several  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
place  and  Boston,  sent  in  a  petition  to  the  Court,  praying  for 
favor  in  behalf  of  Gould  and  others,  but  effected  nothing,  and 
subjected  themselves  to  the  censure  of  the  authorities. 


59 

After  this  a  conference  was  held  between  the  Baptists  and  a 
number  of  the  ministers,  among  whom  were  the  pastor  and 
teacher  of  this  church,  in  the  Boston  meeting-house  ;  but  it 
failed  to  restore  harmony  of  opinion. 

In  concluding  this  brief  account,  it  is  due  to  the  moral 
character  of  the  persons  thus  excommunicated  from  this  church, 
to  say,  that  it  was  undoubtedly  fair  and  Christian.  Hubbard 
says,  that  "  Thomas  Gold  and  some  of  the  rest,  were  men  of  a 
grave  and  serious  spirit,  and  of  sober  conversations."  ^ 

But  while  a  few  were  restricting  the  privilege  of  baptism  to 
adult  believers,  the  people  generally  were  studying  how  to 
extend  it  to  the  children  of  all  baptized  persons,  whether  in 
full  communion  with  the  church  or  not. 

When  the  first  settlers  came  to  this  country,  they  were 
church  members,  and  of  course,  their  children  were  all  bap- 
tized. But,  in  the  language  of  Cotton  Mather,  "when  our 
churches  were  come  to  between  twenty  and  thirty  years  of 
age,  a  numerous  posterity  was  advanced  so  far  into  the  world, 
that  the  first  planters  began  apace  in  their  several  families,  to 
be  distinguished  by  the  name  of  grand-fathers  :  but  among  the 
immediate  parents  of  the  grand-children,  there  were  multitudes 
of  well  disposed  persons,  who  partly  through  their  own  doubts 
and  fears,  and  partly  through  other  culpable  neglects,  had  not 
actually  come  to  the  covenanting  state  of  communicants  at  the 
table  of  the  Lord.  The  good  old  generation  could  not  with- 
out many  apprehensions,  behold  their  offspring  excluded  from 
the  baptism  of  Christianity,  and  from  the  ecclesiastical 
inspection  which  is  to  accompany  that  baptism  ;  indeed  it  was 
to  leave  their  offspring  under  the  shepherdly  government  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  his  ordinances,  that  they  had  brought 
their  lambs  into  this  wilderness."  ^ 

Hence  arose  the  desire  in  a  large  and  respectable  portion  of 
the  community,  to  extend  the  privilege  of  baptism.  They 
thought  it  "  an  unwarrantable  strictness,  which  would  abandon 
the  greater  part  of  the  country  to  heathenism,  to  make  no 
ecclesiastical  difference  between  pagans  who  might  happen  to 
hear  the  word  of  God  in  their  assemblies,  and  those  who  were 
desirous  of  renewing  their  baptismal  covenant,  and  who  would 

1  Note  25.  «  Mag.  II.  238. 


60 

submit  to  church  discipKne  ;  but  could  not  come  up  to  that 
experimental  account  of  their  regeneration,  which  was  required 
in  order  to  admission  to  the  sacrament."  Accordingly  the 
practice  was  growing  up  in  our  churches  of  admitting  this 
class  of  persons  to  the  privilege  of  household  baptism.  But 
the  innovation  met  with  such  opposition,  that  a  synod  of  elders 
and  messengers  from  all  the  churches  in  the  colony  was  called 
for  ;  and  agreeably  to  the  appointment  of  the  General  Court,  it 
was  convened  at  Boston  in  the  spring  of  1662. 

The  influence  which  the  decisions  of  this  synod  had  upon 
the  religious  character  and  usages  not  only  of  this  church  but 
of  the  New  England  churches  generally,  was  so  great  and  so 
long  continued,  that  I  shall  ofl'er  no  apology  for  presenting  to 
you  a  more  particular  account  of  this  part  of  our  history. 

The  leading  question  submitted  to  the  decision  of  the 
synod,  was  this  ;  —  "  Who  are  the  subjects  of  baptism  ? '"' 
But  to  this  was  joined  another,  "  Whether,  according  to  the 
word  of  God,  there  ought  to  be  a  consociation  of  churches, 
and  what  should  be  the  manner  of  it  ?  " 

The  answer  to  the  first  question,  was  given  in  seven  propo- 
sitions, which  were  confirmed  by  extended  arguments  drawn 
from  the  Scriptures. 

The   substance  of  these  propositions  was, — that   '  according 

to  Scripture,  the  members  of  the  visible  church  are  subjects  of 

baptism  ; — that  the  members  of  the  visible  church  are  such  as 

have  made  a  profession  of  their  faith  in  particular  churches, 

together  with  their  children,  who  are  members  of  the   same 

church  with  their  parents,  and  when  grown  up  are  personally 

under  the   watch  of  that  church  ; — that  these  adult  persons, 

however,  are  not  to  be  admitted  to  full  communion,   merely 

because  they  are  members,  without  any  further  qualifications  ; 

j  but  Avhcn  they  understand  and  publicly  profess  the  faith,  are 

w%    /not  scandalous  in  life,  and   solemnly  ov/n  the   covenant  before 

/\    I  the  church,  givmg  up  themselves  and   their  children  to  the 

^     I  Lord,  and  subjecting  themselves  to  the   government  of  Christ 

I  in  the  church,  their  children  are  to  be   baptized.'     This  was 

*  the  point  upon  which  the  opinion  and  practice  of  the  churches 

diftcred,  and  in  regard  to  which  the  controversy  arose. 

The  answer  of  the  synod  to  the  second  question,  seems  to 
have  been  universally  satisfactory.     It  asserted  the  full  power 


61 

and  authority  of  each  individual  church,  to' administer  all  the 
ordinances  of  Christ,  without  being  under  any  other  ecclesiasti- 
cal jurisdiction  whatever :  it  also  laid  down  the  duty  of  the 
communion  of  churches,  defined  its  nature,  and  recommended 
a  method  of  consociation,  which  was  advisory  rather  than 
authoritative. 

The  answers  of  the  synod  to  the  questions  proposed,  being 
returned  to  the  General  Court,  were  read  over  by  them,  and  on 
the  8th  of  October,  1662,  "  commended  to  the  consideration 
of  all  the  churches  and  people  of  this  jurisdiction,"  and  for  that 
end  ordered  to  be  printed. 

The  action  of  this  church,  in  respect  to  the  result  of  the 
synod,  is  thus  recorded  by  Mr.  Shepard  the  teacher,  and  is  the 
first  entry  made  by  him  of  the  doings  of  the  church.  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1663.  "  The  decision  of  the  late  synod  about 
\c!lTcmU,\  was  read,  by  the  elders,  at  a  church  meeting  (except 
the  preface  of  the  book  containing  that  decisive  act,  which  had 
been  read  before  at  a  church  meeting,  January  7th,  1663,  and 
generally  approved)  and  liberty  given  to  the  brethren  to  express 
their  objections  (if  they  had  any)  against  any  part  thereof: 
and  after  some  discourse,  the  brethren  did  generally  express 
themselves  (at  least  three  fourths  of  them  by  word  of  mouth) 
that  they  did  consent  to  the  whole  book  for  the  substance 
thereof,  and  desired  that  the  will  of  God  therein  might  be 
attended  ;  and  upon  a  vote  sileiitiary  propounded,  it  was  so 
carried,  nemine  contradicente,  in  the  affirmative." 

The  silentiary  method  of  taking  this  vote — which  was  by 
calling  upon  those  who  dissented  to  express  their  objections — 
will  account  for  the  fact  that  it  passed  unanimously  in  the 
affirmative.  There  were,  no  doubt,  some  who  disapproved  of 
the  change  recommended  by  the  synod,  and  there  seems  to 
have  been  a  delay  in  carrying  it  into  effect.  For,  under  date 
of  November  27,  1664,  we  find  the  following  record  by  Mr. 
Shepard.  "  There  having  been  many^  thoughts  of  hearts 
touching  the  doctrine  of  the  late  synod  about  the  children  of 
the  church  in  order  to  the  effectual  practice  of  the  same ;  it 
was  propounded  to  vote  whether  the  brethren  were  satisfied  so 
far  forth  as  that  there  might  be  a  proceeding  to  the  practice 
thereof,  and  it  passed  in  the  affirmative  by  their  silence  (the 
testimony  of  their  consent)  after  liberty  was  granted  once  and 


62 

again  to  any  of  them,  that  would,  to  object  if  they  had  any 
thing  from  the  word  of  God  to  allege  against  it ;  but  there  was 
not  one  contradicent." 

But  while  a  good  degree  of  unanimity  was  prevailing  in  this 
church,  the  people  generally  were  much  divided  in  their 
opinions.  The  church  of  Boston  received  the  doctrine  of  the 
synod,  and  proceeded  "  to  practice  according  to  its  recommen- 
J  dations  ;  but  a  considerable  number  of  the  brethren  were  dis- 
"^  satisfied."  '  A  division  was  prevented,  however,  by  the  influ- 
ence of  the  pastor,  the  Rev.  John  Wilson,  who  had  been  a 
member  of  the  synod,  and  subscribed  its  result.  This  venera- 
ble man  died  in  1667,  and  the  church  became  vacant  for  the 
first  time. 

Those  who  were  a  minority  under  Mr.  Wilson,  now  became 
a  majority,  and  succeeded  in  electing  for  his  successor,  the 
Rev.  John  Davenport,  who  was  "  the  greatest  of  the  anti- 
synodists."  To  this  procedure  a  large  and  very  influential 
portion  of  the  church  were  opposed ;  they  were  friends  of  the 
synod,  and  to  thejmmber  of  twenty-eight,  seceded  from 
the  First  church,  and  formed  a  new  church,  now  known  by 
the  name  of  the  Old  South.  This  church  was  organized  in 
Charlestown  in  the  month  of  May,  1669,  after  having  received 
the  sanction  of  a  council  of  ministers,  who  publicly  testified 
their  disapprobation  of  the  conduct  of  the  old  church,  among 
whom  were  Mr.  Symmes  and  Mr.  Shepard,  the  pastor  and 
teacher  of  this  church.^ 

This  was  the  great  event  of  the  day.  It  occasioned  much 
excitement,  and  divided  the  whole  colony  into  two  parties,  the 
friends  of  the  old  and  friends  of  the  new  church,  the  latter  of 
whom  were  in  favor  of  the  synod,  and  the  former  against  it. 
It  Avas  not  long,  however,  before  the  churches  settled  down 
with  great  unanimity  upon  the  practice  recommended  by  the 
synod. 

Upon  our  records,  besides  the  catalogue  of  persons  in  full 
commmiion,  we  have  the  "  names  of  such  children  of  the 
covenant,  as  have  publicly  renewed  their  covenant  with  God 
and  this  church,  yet  not  taken  into  communion  in  the  Lord's 
Supper  ;  "   and  in  a  separate  list,  the   "  names  of  such  as  have 

»  Hist,  of  First  church.  2  Note  28. 


63 

been  admitted  into  this  church,  but  not  unto  full  communion." 
The  distinction  between  these  two  classes,  seems  to  have  been 
that  the  first  were  members  of  the  church  by  infant  baptism ; 
and  the  second  were  baptized  at  the  time  of  their  admission. 

On  16th  July,  1665,  Daniel  Edmunds  and  three  other  per- 
sons, renewed  their  baptismal  covenant,  and  were  thus  admitted 
to  the  privilege  of  baptism  for  their  children,  but  not  to  the 
Lord's  Supper.  This  practice  was  continued  in  the  church 
until  1793  j  in  the  beginning  of  that  year,  a  committee  was 
appointed,  consisting  of  Rev.  Dr.  Morse,  Richard  Devens,  Esq., 
Dea.  Larkin,  Dea.  Millar,  Dea.  James  Frothingham,  Mr.  Joseph 
Hurd,  Mr.  Barnabas  Barker,  Dr.  Putnam,  and  David  Wood, 
Esq.,  to  take  into  consideration  the  expediency  of  departing 
from  this  usage.  Their  report  is  interesting  and  valuable,  as 
exhibiting  the  practical  results  of  the  "  half-way  covenant,"  as 
it  is  called,  and  the  necessity  that  grew  up  for  a  return  to  the 
original  practice  of  our  churches. 

The  committee,  after  ascribing  the  origin  of  their  practice  to 
the  seven  propositions  of  the  venerable  synod  of  1662,  and 
expressing  their  satisfaction  with  the  plan,  if  it  could  be  carried 
out  according  to  the  intention  of  its  framers,  although  they 
regard  the  original  principle  of  limiting  the  privilege  of  baptism 
to  the  children  of  communicants,  as  less  liable  to  be  abused, 
proceed  to  show  in  Avhat  respects  their  actual  practice  dif- 
fered from  the  one  recommended  by  the  synod.  The  synod 
regarded  the  children  of  believing  parents  baptized  in  infancy, 
not  only  as  visible  church  members,  but  also  as  "personally 
under  the  watch,  discipline  and  government  of  the  church,  of 
which  their  parents  were  members."  And  when  they  grew 
up,  and  renewed  their  covenant,  and  received  the  privilege  of 
baptism  for  their  children,  they  were  required  to  subject  them- 
selves to  the  discipline  and  government  of  the  church.  And 
when  the  plan  of  the  synod  was  first  carried  into  effect,  privi- 
leges and  obligations  were  united  ;  they  who  received  baptism 
held  themselves  accountable  to  the  discipline  of  the  church. 
Accordingly,  after  the  adoption  by  this  church,  of  the  plan 
recommended  by  the  synod,  we  find  accounts  of  the  discipline 
of  persons  described  as  "  children  of  the  covenant,  but  not  in 
full  communion."  The  first  case  of  discipline  of  this  sort, 
deserves  to  be  mentioned,  as  an  evidence  that  the  plan  of  the 


64 

synod  in  its  true  spirit  and  meaning,  was,  as  stated  in  the 
report,  essentially  different  from  the  half-way  covenant  of  more 
modern  times. 

"  September  1,  1667.  Our  pastor,"  says  the  teacher,  Mr. 
Shepard,  "  acquainted  the  church  with  the  complaint  which 
had  been  made  to  us  concerning  the  scandal  of  Jno.  Lowden, 
(our  br.  Serjeant  Lowden's  eldest  son,)  and  that  we  had  ex- 
amined it,  (referring  to  his  striking  the  constable  and  watch- 
man late  in  the  night,  when  he  was  inflamed  with  drink,)  and 
that  we  intended  according  to  rule  to  deal  with  him  in  a  church 
way  ;  and  that  if  any  of  the  brethren  had  any  thing  to  object 
against  it  they  had  their  liberty ;  but  none  replying,  their 
silence  was  taken  for  a  testimony  of  their  consent  that  he 
should  so  be  proceeded  with." 

On  the  following  Lord's  day,  agreeably  to  the  usage  of  the 
fathers,  "  the  assembly,  before  the  pronouncing  of  the  benedic- 
tion in  the  afternooon,  was  made  acquainted  with  the  offence 
in  question,  and  the  young  man,  being  called  forth,  made  con- 
fession of  his  sin."  Inquiries  were  then  made  of  him,  and 
liberty  given  to  the  brethren  to  object  if  any  of  them  were  not 
satisfied.  "  At  length,"  it  was  voted,  "  that  the  repentance 
held  forth  by  the  offender  was  satisfactory  for  the  removing  of 
the  offence  that  had  been  given  to  the  church,  so  that  they 
would  forgive  him,  and  still  confirm  their  love  towards  him." 
And  "so  it  was  declared  by  the  eldership  that  he  was  re- 
stored." ^ 

This  act  of  discipline  seems  to  have  been  conducted  in  the 
spirit  of  kindness,  and  been  productive  of  a  salutary  reforma- 
tion. And  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt,  that  in  all  similar  cases, 
where  the  parents  of  the  offender  were  in  full  communion,  the 
watch  and  discipline  of  the  church  might  have  been  exercised 
with  equally  good  effects.  But  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of 
administering  discipline  to  those  children  of  the  covenant, 
whose  parents  were  not  communicants,  were  so  great  and 
numerous,  that  it  was  soon  entirely  neglected. 

"  Baptized  persons  among  us,"  say  the  committee,  "  have 
not  been  accustomed  to  consider  themselves  as  church  members, 


1  Six  monllis  after  this,  he  was  admitted  a  member  in  full  communion.  He  seems  after- 
wards, however,  to  have  relapsed  into  intemperance,  for  which  he  was  publicly  admonished, 
July  26,  1674,  and  excommunicated,  January  10,  1675. 


65 

or  subjects  of  the  watch  and  discipline  of  the  church  ;  nor  have 
they  for  many  years  past,  been  thus  considered  and  treated  by 
the  church.  The  consequence  has  been,  that  baptized  persons, 
unregarded  by  the  church  as  her  children,  have  been  suffered 
to  grow  up,  and  to  live  in  the  practice  of  scandalous  sins,  un- 
rebuked,  and  without  any  pains  taken  to  reform  them  ;  of 
course  all  difference  between  them  and  the  unbaptized,  so  far 
as  respects  the  great  privilege  of  being  under  the  watch  and 
care  of  the  church  is  destroyed,  and  this  part  of  the  church  (if 
we  consider  them  as  members)  has,  in  consequence  of  this 
neglect,  become  exceedingly  corrupt." 

"  These  things  being  so,"  the  committee  were  of  opinion, 
that  "  an  attempt  at  once  to  correct  these  abuses,  and  to  revert 
completely  back  to  the  primitive  practice,  would  in  the  present 
state  of  the  minds  of  the  people,  produce  unwarrantable  schism 
in  the  congregation." 

They  therefore  conclude  by  recommending  the  following  plan. 
"  That  persons  wishing  the  privilege  of  baptism  for  themselves 
and  their  children,  be  propounded  to  the  congregation,  and  if  no 
objection  be  offered,  they  shall  be  entitled  to  the  privilege  by 
subscribing  a  '  Declaration  of  faith  in  the  Christian  religion.'  " 
This  plan  was  followed  during  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Morse,  but  gradually  fell  into  disuse,  and  was  never  acted  upon 
after  his  dismission.  Since  that  time,  the  uniform  practice  of 
our  church  has  been  what  it  was  before  the  synod  of  1062,  to 
confine  the  privilege  of  household  baptism  to  members  of  the 
church  in  full  communion. 

The  only  occasional  vote  of  the  church  I  find  recorded 
during  this  period,  illustrative  of  primitive  usages,  is  the  fol- 
lowing : 

"  April  22,  1666.  A  church  act  for  the  provision  for  the 
Lord's  Table ;  viz  :  That  at  the  beginning  of  every  ^  year, 
each  communicant  shall  bring  in  Vld.  to  the  deacon's  box  for 
the  ^  year  that  is  to  ensue  respectively  :  and  the  year  to  begin 
(in  order  to  this)  the  next  sacrament  day,  which  is  May  6th, 
1666.  Voted  in  the  affirmative  by  the  silence  of  the  whole 
church." 

The  venerable  Symmes,  the  aged  pastor  of  the  church,  was 
now  drawing  near  the  close  of  his  long  and  faithful  life.  He 
was  about  seventy  years  old,  and  the  infirmities  of  age  having 


66 

incapacitated  him  for  the  active  performance  of  his  duties,  the 
church  was  led  to  seek  another  helper  in  the  ministry.  In  the 
year  1669,  the  Rev.  John  Oxenbridge,  one  of  the  most  popular 
preachers  and  elegant  writers  of  his  time,  was  employed  for 
awhile,  and  with  so  much  acceptance,  that  a  strong  desire  was 
manifested  to  secure  his  services  in  the  ministry.  On  the  8th 
of  October,  1669,  "  The  church  met  at  about  10  of  the  clock 
in  the  forenoon,"  and  passed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Oxen- 
bridge,  "for  his  laboring  in  the  ministry  of  the  word  among 
us  hitherto ;  "  and  "  invited  him  to  continue  therein  awhile 
longer  among  us  every  Sabbath  day,  that  so  the  mind  of  God 
may  be  further  discovered  with  reference  to  our  intention  (God 
Avilling  :  as  the  Lord  shall  make  way  in  his  and  our  hearts), 
in  convenient  time  (being  mutually  satisfied  in  each  other),  to 
call  him  to  office-work  in  this  church."  "  It  was  also  voted 
at  the  same  time,  that  our  honored  magistrate  Mr.  RusseJl, 
Capt.  Allen,  and  our  deacons  with  the  elders,  would  presently 
acquaint  the  Rev.  Mr.  Oxenbridge  with  the  aforesaid  invitation." 
His  answer,  however,  was  in  the  negative ;  and  they  made 
a  second  attempt,  "  to  take  off  Mr.  Oxenbridge's  reasons  against 
abiding  with  us,  and  to  gain  his  granting  our  request,"  but 
with  no  success,  for  they  found  he  had  the  day  before  "  left 
his  answer  with  the  elders  of  the  First  church  in  Boston,  in 
the  affirmative  to  their  invitation  of  him  to  themselves,  and 
that  he  was  resolved  to  go  over  to  them."  Mr.  Shepard  has 
appended  to  this  record,  the  initials  D.  R. !  (with  a  point  of 
exclamation,)  probably  for  Detis  Regnat !  God  reigns! — an  in- 
dication of  the  severe  disappointment  the  teacher  and  the 
church  received  from  this  decision.  In  the  following  spring 
Mr.  Oxenbridge  became  pastor  of  the  Boston  church,  and  died 
after  a  ministry  of  about  four  years.  He  was  suddenly  taken 
ill  while  preaching  the  Thursday  Lecture,  December  23,  and 
died  Dec.  28,  1674,  set.  65. 

Not  long  after  this  unsuccessful  attempt  to  secure  the  services 
of  Mr.  Oxenbridge,  the  Rev.  Zechariah  Symmes  died,  February 
4,  1671,^  within  a  month  of  completing  his  seventy-second 
year,  and  in  the  thirty-seventh  of  his  ministry.  Mr.  Symmes 
deserves,  if  any  one,  to  be  called  the  father  of  the  church.     He 

»  Note  27. 


67 

was  ordained  its  teacher  two  years  after  its  organization,  and 
upon  the  dismission  of  Mr.  James,  became  its  pastor,  and  for 
a  period  of  more  than  thirty  years  continued  to  discharge  the 
duties  of  that  office.  He  outlived  most  of  those  who  ex- 
tended to  him  the  hand  of  friendship,  when  he  arrived  at 
these  infant  settlements ;  they  had  dropped  away  one  after 
another ;  a  few  white  haired  old  men  might  still  be  seen  ; 
but  the  more  active  and  prominent  men  had  been  worn  out 
by  their  severe  privations,  their  anxieties  and  labors.  The 
early  planters  of  this  town,  who  had  settled  him  in  the  min- 
istry over  them,  were  gone  ;  he  had  followed  them  one  by 
one  to  yonder  burying  hill,  and  laid  them  down  with  words 
of  prayer  and  consolation  ;  and  now  a  new  generation — the 
children  he  had  baptized — were  bearing  him  forth  to  sleep 
in  the  midst  of  the  congregation  with  whom  he  had  lived. 
There  are  few  things,  in  the  private  journals  of  the  time, 
more  affecting  than  the  allusions  they  contain  to  the  burial  of 
the  last  remains  of  that  first  generation.  The  funerals  of  those 
days  were  conducted  with  great  solemnity,  and  attended  with 
a  degree  of  expense  which  the  straitness  of  their  circumstances 
could  but  ill  afford.  The  early  settlers  regarded  it  as  an  im- 
perative duty  to  gather  about  the  bier  of  each  of  their  dimin- 
ishing number ;  and  it  afforded  them  a  melancholy  pleasure 
to  behold  each  other  on  occasions  which  seemed  to  re-unite 
them  with  then*  brethren  who  had  departed.  We  can  imagine 
we  see  one  of  these  sable  processions,  as  it  moves  slowly 
and  silently  along  our  streets  ;  sloioly  and  almost  impercep- 
tibly it  advances,  for  the  feeble  and  tottering  are  bearing  a 
venerable  form  of  their  own  to  the  tomb.  We  see  them 
stand  upon  the  burying-hill,  their  thin  white  locks  floating 
upon  the  wind,  and  their  trembling  forms  almost  bending  to 
the  blast.  The  services  ended,  they  seem  reluctant  to  leave 
the  familiar  spot ;  they  revisit  the  graves  of  their  brethren, 
notice  every  change  in  the  yard,  and  look  with  solemn  thought 
upon  the  spot  where  they  soon  shall  lie ;  they  return  to  the 
house  of  mourning  to  recount  the  virtues  of  the  departed — the 
scenes  of  trial  and  hardship  through  which  they  have  passed — 
and  then  with  the  approaching  darkness  they  separate,  each 
feeling  that  for  his  own  burial  may  be  the  next  gathering  of 
the  fathers.     It   will  be  difficult  for  us  to  understand  what 


68 

strength  of  attachment  these  patriarchs  of  New  England  felt 
for  each  other ;  with  what  increasing  interest  they  watched 
their  rapidly  waning  ranks ;  and  how  tenderly  they  grieved  for 
one  another,  as  a  soldier  for  his  companion  in  arms,  and  a 
Christian  for  his  brother. 

There  were  bonds  of  sympathy  between  the  old  men  of  the 
first  generation,  which  did  not  and  could  not  exist  between 
them  and  their  children  of  the  second,  or  such  as  had  arrived 
at  a  subsequent  period.  And  there  were  important  differences 
of  character  also  between  the  two  generations.  The  warm- 
hearted and  self-denying  piety  of  the  fathers,  threw  into  the 
shade  the  harsher  features  of  their  character  ;  we  reverence 
the  one  so  much,  that  we  readily  cast  the  mantle  of  charity 
over  the  other.  But  their  sons,  as  a  generation,  were  not 
imbued  with  the  same  deeply  religious  spirit ;  and  yet,  as  the 
forms  and  excrescences  of  religion  are  frequently  retained  after 
the  life  is  gone,  they  were  characterized  by  many  of  the 
repulsive  peculiarities  of  the  fathers,  unredeemed  by  their 
high  moral  principle.  I  do  not  mean  to  say,  that  the  spirit 
of  Puritan  piety  was  extinct  in  the  hearts  of  their  sons. 
Far  from  it.  But,  as  I  shall  have  occasion  hereafter  to  men- 
tion, a  decline  of  spiritual  religion  had  commenced,  which  in 
the  first  place  rendered  the  provisions  of  the  synod  of  1662 
necessary,  and  afterwards  perverted  those  very  provisions  to 
the  still  more  rapid  decay  of  practical  godliness,  and  of  the 
conservative  influence  of  a  watchful  church  discipline. 

Permit  me  to  present  an  extract  from  a  sermon,  delivered  by 
the  minister  of  Dorchester,  before  the  assembled  clergy  and 
legislators  of  Massachusetts,  shortly  before  the  death  of  Mr. 
Symmes.  It  will  give  us  some  idea  of  the  points  of  diflerence 
between  the  first  and  second  generations.  In  pressing  his 
exhortation,  the  preacher  directs  his  remarks  distinctly,  first, 
to  the  remainders  of  the  ancient  stock  among  us  ;  and,  second, 
to  the  present  generation, 

"  First,  unto  those  who  are  yet  abiding  with  us  of  the  first 
generation  of  the  Lord's  faithful  servants,  those  plants  of  re- 
nown wherewith  God  set  his  garden  here  at  the  first.  Let  me 
speak  a  few  words  unto  you.  Fathers,  because  you  have  known 
that  which  was  from  the  beginning.  You  have  had  a  long 
and  large  experience  of  things ;  you  have  seen  all  the  great 


69 

works  which  the  Lord  hath  done  for  this  people  ;  you  have 
been  long  rooted  and  satiated  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  :  as  you 
ought  to  be,  and  are,  so  we  esteem  of  you,  and  account  you  to 
be  as  a  crown  and  an  honor  in  the  midst  of  us  :  trials  you  have 
seen,  and  trials  you  may  yet  further  see,  but  your  triumph  is 
now  at  hand.  You  have  by  this  time  parted  with  most  and 
the  choicest  of  your  contemporaries,  your  companions  in  the 
foundations  of  the  work  of  Christ  here ;  and  your  eyes  behold 
this  day  that  another  generation  is  risen  up,  and  begin  to  stand 
thick  upon  the  stage  ;  and  that  even  of  them,  there  is  one,  to 
whose  lot  it  falls  to  speak  to  you  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  this 
day.  Now  what  is  the  sum  of  your  desires,  and  would  be  the 
chief  and  top  of  your  joys,  as  to  those  you  must  shortly  leave 
behind  you  ?  Is  it  not  that  your  children  after  you  may  be 
found  walking  in  the  truth,  owning  the  covenant  of  God, 
maintaining  and  upholding  the  same  interest  of  holiness  and 
reformation  wherein  you  have  been  engaged  before  us.  *  *  * 
As  long  as  you  are  in  this  tabernacle,  stir  them  up  by  putting 
them  in  remembrance,  that  they  may  be  established  in  all  those 
truths  and  practices,  which  to  own  and  abide  in  hath  been  New 
England's  glory,  and  must  be  its  preservation  and  safety  in 
whatever  times  are  coming  upon  us.  You  know  what  exam- 
ples unto  this  purpose  you  have  in  Moses  and  Joshua  and 
David ;  the  Lord  plant  in  you  the  same  love  and  zeal  and  care 
for  the  name  of  God  and  the  welfare  of  your  posterity,  before 
you  go  hence  and  be  seen  no  more." 

And  then  turning  to  his  brethren  and  companions  of  the 
generation  risen  and  rising,  he  says  : 

"  Look  after  the  root  of  the  matter  in  your  souls.  There 
are  many  outside  custom-born  Christians  now-a-days.  O  let  us 
get  good  sound  principles,  for  want  whereof  the  profession  of 
so  many  hath  run  itself  out  of  breath,  and  broke  its  neck.  It 
hath  been  said  that  a  loose  Protestant  is  fit  to  become  a  strict 
Papist.  A  formal  ungrounded  professor,  he  will  be  fit  for 
Satan's  turn  in  these  days.  Plead  and  improve  the  Lord's 
covenant  with  you,  and  in  special  your  baptism,  the  first  seal 
of  that  covenant,  that  you  may  be  established  and  made  faithful 
with  the  Lord  therein.  If  we  forget  and  neglect  the  Lord  in 
that  wherein  he  begins  with  us,  and  first  visibly  takes  hold  of 


70 

us,  no  wonder  if  we  make  no  progress,  but  sit  loose  from  God 
all  our  days. 

"  Consider  and  remember  always,  that  the  books  that  shall 
be  opened  at  the  last  day  will  contain  genealogies  in  them. 
There  shall  then  be  brought  forth  a  register  of  the  genealogies 
of  New  England's  sons  and  daughters.  How  shall  we,  many 
of  us,  hold  up  our  faces  then,  when  there  shall  be  a  solemn 
rehearsal  of  our  descent  as  well  as  of  our  degeneracies  ?  To 
have  it  published  whose  child  thou  art  will  be  cutting  unto 
thy  soul,  as  well  as  to  have  the  crimes  reckoned  up  that  thou 
art  guilty  of."  ^ 

Mr.  Symmes  appears  to  have  been  held  in  esteem  by  his  co- 
temporaries,  and  when  we  remember  who  they  were,  this  is  no 
small  praise.  In  respect  to  ability  and  literary  attainments,  he 
appears  to  have  been  respectable  ;  but  if  we  are  authorized  to 
form  an  opinion  from  the  slender  information  we  possess 
respecting  him,  he  was  more  distinguished  for  his  practical 
talents  and  general  usefulness.  "  He  knew  his  Bible  well," 
says  Cotton  Mather,  "  and  he  was  a  preacher  of  what  he  knew, 
and  a  sufferer  for  what  he  preached." 

He  was  honorably  interred  at  the  expense  of  the  town.  His 
grave  was  "  covered  and  set  comlie,"  by  a  stone  work  laid  in 
lime,  together  with  a  tombstone,  procured  by  the  selectmen 
and  deacons,  in  compliance  with  a  vote  of  the  town.  The 
epitaph,  which  is  now  entirely  effaced  by  time,  contained  the 
following  distich : 

"  A  prophet  lies  under  this  stone : 
His  words  shall  live,  though  he  be  gone."^ 

'  "New  England's  true  Interest  not  to  Lie."    By  Mr.  W.  Stoughton,  preacher  of  the 
gospel  in  Dorchester.    Preached  in  Boston,  April  29th,  1668. 
»  Note  28. 


LECTURE    IV 


Heb.    xiii.   7,   8. 

Remember  them  which  have  the  rule  over  you,  who  have  spoken  unto  you 
THE  word  of  God:  whose  faith  follow,  considering  the  end  of  their 
conversation:  Jesus  Christ  the  same  yesterday, and  to-day, and  forever. 

In  our  last  Lecture  we  brought  the  history  of  the  church 
down  to  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Zechariah  Symmes ;  this  event 
left  Mr.  Shepard,  the  teacher  of  the  church,  alone  in  the 
ministry ;  the  duties  of  which  he  continued  to  discharge  with- 
out a  settled  helper  till  his  death,  in  1677.  During  this  inter- 
val very  little  is  to  be  gathered  respecting  our  internal  history. 
The  church  records  only  give  evidence  that  discipline  was 
faithfully  maintained.  From  the  town  records  a  few  miscel- 
laneous items  may  be  gleaned,  indicative  of  the  spirit  and 
usages  of  the  fathers.  Under  date  of  March  31st,  1670,  "  By 
order  of  the  selectmen  it  was  left  with  our  deacons  to  gratifie 
any  minister  called  in  to  help  Mr.  Shepard  on  occasion  of  his 
weakness,  and  also  that  Mr.  Shepard  have  £10  allowed  him 
by  the  deacons  in  reference  to  entertaining  of  those  who  have 
been  helpful  to  him  for  the  time  past."  This  vote  was  passed 
before  the  death  of  Mr.  Symmes,  and  when  the  teacher,  Mr. 
Shepard,  was  laid  aside  from  his  duties  for  a  while  in  conse- 
quence of  sickness.  But  I  quote  it  as  one  of  many  evidences 
that  the  people  procured  for  their  pastor  the  assistance  of  a 
number  of  ministers,  as  they  had  occasion  and  opportunity. 
There  is  to  be  seen  now  in  om-  burial  ground  the  monument 
of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Gilbert,  who  came  to  this  place  from 
Scotland,  in  July,  1661,  and  soon  after  became  the  first  minister 
of  Topsfield.  After  his  dismission  from  that  church,  however, 
he  returned  to  this  town,  and  probably  assisted  Mr.  Shepard 
during  the  sickness  and   some  time  after  the  death  of  Mr. 


72 

Symmes.  He  died  in  Mr.  Symmes's  house  on  the  26th 
October,  1673.* 

After  this  the  Rev.  Joseph  Browne,  a  minister  of  considera- 
ble distinction,  was  employed  as  an  assistant  to  Mr.  Shepard. 
He  was  the  son  of  the  Hon.  William  Browne,  a  merchant  of 
Salem,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1666,  where  he  had 
a  fellowship  ;  he  died  May  9th,  1678,  shortly  after  receiving  a 
call  to  succeed  Mr.  Shepard  in  the  ministry.  The  church 
also  enjoyed  the  occasional  services  of  Rev.  Daniel  Russell, 
a  native  of  this  town,  and  "  son  of  the  worshipful  Richard 
Russell,"  who  was  admitted  to  the  communion  of  the  church, 
April  16,  1676.  He  graduated  in  1669  at  Harvard  College, 
and  was  invited  to  succeed  Mr.  Shepard  in  the  minis- 
try, but  died  January  4,  1679.  Ten  pounds  were  allowed 
by  the  selectmen,  out  of  the  sum  his  father  had  bequeathed  to 
the  church,  towards  his  funeral  charges.^ 

In  the  spring  of  1672,  the  meeting-house  was  repaired  and 
enlarged ;  and  in  1675,  galleries  were  built,  doubtless  for  the 
first  time." 

In  the  month  of  May,  1672,  Mr.  Shepard  preached  by  ap- 
pointment the  election  sermon.  It  was  printed  the  following 
year  at  Cambridge,  and  is  entitled  ''  Eye  salve,  or  a  watchword 
from  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  unto  his  churches :  especially  those 
within  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts,  in  New  England,  to  take 
heed  of  apostacy :  or  a  treatise  of  remembrance  of  what  God 
hath  been  to  us,  as  also  what  we  ought,  and  what  we  ought 
not  to  be  to  him,  as  we  desire  the  prolonging  of  our  prosperous 
days  in  the  land  which  the  Lord  our  God  hath  given  us.     By 

1  Note  29.  2  Note  30. 

*  The  following  epitaph,  which  Mather  says,  Mag.  I.  544,  '  was  in  his  day  to  be  read 
■upon  JMr.  Gilbert's  tomb  in  Charlestowii,'  is  still  legible. 

"  Here  is  interred 

the  body  of  that  reverend,  sincere,  zealous,  devout  and 

faithful  minister  of  Jesus  Christ, 

MR.      THOMAS      GILBERT, 

sometime  Pastor  of  the  Church  of  Christ 

at  Chedle,  in  Cheshire ;  also  sometime  Pastor 

of  the  Chureh  of  Christ  at  Eling,  in  Old  England  : 

who  was  the  proto-martyr,  the  first  of  llie  ministers  that 

sufiiered  deprivation,  in  the  cause  of  non-conformity, 

in   England ;    and   after,   betaking  himself  to 

New  England,  became   Pastor  of  the 

Church   of  Christ   in  Topsfield  j 

and  at  sixty-three  years  of 

age,   departed 

this  life. 

Interred  October  28,  1673." 


73 

Thomas  Shepard,  teacher  of  the  church  of  Christ  in  Charles- 
town  ;  who  was  appointed  by  the  magistrates  to  preach  on  the 
day  of  Election  at  Boston,  May  15,  1672.  Deut.  viii.  10, 
&c. ;  V.  32,  33.     Cambridge  :  printed  by  Samuel  Green,  1673." 

The  sermon  is  a  good  specimen  of  the  style  of  preaching  of 
those  days ;  and  especially  instructive,  as  giving  some  clue  to 
the  moral  condition  of  the  people.  The  preacher  alludes 
frequently  to  the  rising  sentiment  in  favor  of  toleration,  but 
opposes  it  strongly.  It  is  obvious  that  at  that  time,  the  great 
majority  of  the  educated  and  influential  classes,  were  decidedly 
opposed  to  the  principle  of  toleration,  but  that  its  friends  were 
sufficiently  numerous  and  earnest  to  press  its  claims  upon  the 
attention  of  those  who  guided  or  executed  the  public  sentiment.^ 
The  text  was  taken  from  Jer.  ii.  31,  "  O  generation,  see  ye  the 
word  of  the  Lord :  have  I  been  a  wilderness  unto  Israel  ?  a 
land  of  darkness  ?  Wherefore  say  my  people,  we  are  lords,  we 
will  come  no  more  unto  thee  ?" 

After  a  long  and  labored  explication  of  the  text,  he  announces 
the  doctrine,  "  That  the  undeniable  experience  which  the 
covenant  people  of  God  have  had  of  the  Lord's  being  to  them 
not  a  wilderness  nor  a  land  of  darkness,  but  the  contrary, 
should  caution  them  never  to  incur  the  guilt  of  so  unreasonable 
a  sin  and  dangerous  folly  and  provocation,  as  to  revolt  from 
under  the  Lord,  or  to  be  unwilling  to  return  again  in  case  they 
have  begun  to  decline  from  him."  This  he  supports  by  six 
reasons ;  and  from  it  derives  three  uses,  which  he  carries  out 
under  many  divisions  and  subdivisions. 

I  will  quote  an  extract  from  this  discourse,  under  its  third 
use,  which  was  that  of  exhortation. 

"  Let  the  schools  flourish.  This  is  one  means  whereby  we 
have  been,  and  may  be  still  preserved  from  a  wild  wilderness 
state,  through  God's  blessing  upon  the  same,  and  from  be- 
coming a  land  of  darkness,  and  of  the  shadow  of  death. 
Cherish  them  therefore,  and  the  college  in  special  :  and  accor- 
dingly that  there  may  be  a  seasonable  (while  aflfections  are 
warm)  and  a  faithful  improvement  of  the  contribution  for  the 
new  edifice  there,  and  what  else  is  needful  for  the  encourage- 
ment and  advancement  of  learning  in  that  precious  society  ; 


1  Note  31. 

10 


74 

the  fall  and  sinking  whereof  (which  the  Lord  forbid)  I  should 
look  at  as  presaging  the  ruin  of  this  land  also  :  Let  it  never 
want  a  benign  aspect  for  the  flourishing  of  that  dear  nursery ; 
lest  otherwise  there  come  to  be  either  no  ministry,  or  an  illite- 
rate and  (and  in  that  respect  in  former  times  accounted)  a 
scandalous  and  insufficient  ministry,  neither  burning  nor 
shining  lights.  Keep  the  good  old  way  here  experienced  of  a 
godly  learned  ministry,  wherein  the  people  of  God  have  tried 
and  found  so  much  of  the  presence  and  glory  of  the  Lord, 
crowning  the  same  with  so  choice  a  blessing  as  he  hath  done  : 
and  God  hath  no  need  of  a  New  Cart,  or  of  Uzzah's  hand  to 
save  the  shaken  ark ;  nor  did  a  good  intention  excuse  him  from 
death  by  God's  immediate  hand  and  stroke  from  heaven,  when 
the  Lord's  institution  is  crossed  in  that  matter. 

"  2.  Let  the  liberties  of  the  churches  also  be  preserved  and 
maintained  ;  for  the  church  is  as  a  light  upon  an  hill ;  the  peo- 
ple of  God  are  to  shine  as  lights  in  the  world ;  therefore  thereby 
also  the  land  is  instrumentally  kept  from  being  a  land  of  dark- 
ness. Let  the  scripturally  unworthy  be  debarred  the  holy 
things  in  the  sacrament,  and,  which  they  have  no  right  unto 
by  rule.  '  Pulsent  fores,'  said  Cyprian  of  old,  &-c.,  though 
they  bounce  at  the  door,  yet  let  them  not  have  it  opened  to 
them,  till  duly  qualified  for  the  same.  There  is  much  and 
may  be  more  danger  of  such  bold-faced  hypocrites  ;  and  there- 
fore, O  that  no  such  intruders  may  be  sufl'ered  to  disturb  and 
vex  the  dear  people  of  the  Lord  in  any  of  their  just  liberties  ! 
and  that  a  malignant  spirit  of  prophaneness  (which  this  poor 
people  is  in  great  hazard  of  feeling  the  woful  impression  of) 
may  timeously  be  crushed,  and  so  not  permitted  to  blow  out 
gospel  light,  even  the  lights  of  the  sanctuary  here.  Nor  let 
there  be  any  ludihria  tnedicoj-um  spiritualium,  or  what  may 
be  any  standing  reproach  to  the  healing  ways  and  instruments 
of  Jesus  Christ  here,  seeing  there  is  sufficient  balm  in  Gilead 
provided  by  Christ  for  every  spiritual  disease  in  his  church. 
Let  not  the  way  of  the  rigid  Separatists,  and  the  like,  be  acted 
over  again  here,  till  the  churches  be  buried  in  confusion.  In 
case  of  the  divisions  in  churches,  hath  not  the  Congregational 
way  balm  for  this  wound  appointed  by  Christ,  but  Morellius 
must  be  raked  out  of  his  grave  to  be  the  only  physician  ? 

"  3.  Let  the  ministry  (who  also  should  be  instrumental,  in 


75 

their  sphere,  to  keep  this  land  from  becoming  a  land  of  dark- 
ness) be  duly  encouraged.  There  have  been  and  are  com- 
plaints this  way  respecting  their  outward  subsistence  in  many 
places,  (I  bless  the  Lord  I  am  not  under  any  temptation  therein, 
being  liberally  and  abundantly  well  provided  for  by  the  good 
people  I  live  among ;  and  therefore  I  may  speak  the  more  freely 
and  boldly  for  others,)  I  fear  there  is  too  sad  neglect  in  divers 
towns.  It  was  a  sign  Nehemiah  was  away  when  the  Levites 
were  fain  to  go  into  the  fields,  Neh.  xiii.  6,  10,  11,  when  they 
are  forced  to  turn  to  the  meadow,  to  the  cart,  and  to  the  plow, 
&c.,  or  else  they  cannot  live,  or  at  least  not  live  out  of  tor- 
menting debt.  Is  this  the  fruit  of  God's  being  no  wilderness 
to  us  ?  O  generation,  see  the  word  of  the  Lord.  Mind  the 
example  of  good  Hezekiah,  2  Chron.  xxxi.  4 ;  he  encouraged 
such;  (O  take  heed  that  there  be  not  on  the  other  side  found 
among  us  a  discouraged  ministry,  respecting  such  I  mean  as  are 
able  and  faithful  ministers  of  the  New  Testament,  who  would 
gladly  spend  and  be  spent  for  their  people  ;)  'He  commanded 
the  people,'  (it  is  there  said)  and  it  was  not  therefore  left  as  an 
arbitrary  thing,  or  as  an  alms  ;  and  mind  the  fruit  of  it,  i.  e. 
V.  10,  '■  Since  the  people  began  to  bring  their  offerings  into  the 
house  of  the  Lord,  we  have  had  enough  to  eat ;  for  the  Lord 
hath  blessed  his  people,  and  that  which  is  left  is  this  great 
store.'  If  particular  churches  or  towns  are  really  not  able  to 
supply  the  necessity  of  him  that  '  labors  in  the  word '  among 
them,  should  not  such  a  poor  people  be  relieved  ?  might  it  not 
do  well  if  some  additional  provision  were  made  out  of  some 
public  bank  or  stock  for  an  honorable  relief  of  such  ?  and  that 
thereby  we  '  bear  one  another's  burdens  '?  and  '■  be  we  not  de- 
ceived, God  is  not  mocked  '  in  this  very  matter.  Gal.  vi.  6,  7  ; 
1  Cor.  ix.  14  ;  Ezra  vii.  24,  &,c.  Must  they  be  rated  will  and 
doom  ?  Ah,  when  men's  hearts  die  to  the  word,  no  wonder  if 
they  soon  die  to  the  dispensers  of  it :  and  then  '■  ivhat  means 
this  waste  ? '  and  proud,  covetous,  disingenuous,  unwise,  cap- 
tious, carping,  bold,  selfish  spirits  and  principles  will  be  stirring : 
and  '  let  us  take  turns  to  preach,'  (and  to  govern  the  church 
also  as  moderators  in  it,)  'rather  than  have  this  costly  ser- 
vice ? '  And  '  what  a  weariness  is  it  ? '  &c.  If  it  must  be 
so,  should  we  wonder  if  the  Lord  take  them  away  that  ^e 
such  a  charge,  and  ease  people  of  such  a  burden  ?     Oh,   '  muz- 


76 

zle  not  the  mouth  of  that  'ox  that  treadeth  out  the'  spiritual 
'corn.'  And  though  anti-christian  begging  friars  live  by 
alms,  yet  let  it  not  be  said  of  a  Protestant  people,  or  of  these 
churches,  that  they  are  so  sordid  in  their  spirits  as  to  truckle 
under  a  mendicant  ministry ;  and  that  will  be  a  flattering  and 
an  unfaithful  ministry  at  length,  that  is  made  to  bow  under  the 
temptation  of  '  needing  the  alms  of  the  people : '  and  remember 
that  a  person  or  people  may  become  guilty  of  sacrilege  by 
withholding  what  is  due  this  way,  as  well  as  by  robbing  or 
taking  away  that  which  is  already  dedicated  or  given  in  to 
God,  Mai.  iii.  8,  and  that  withholding  is  there  called  robbery  ; 
though  I  am  far  from  pleading  here  for  the  quota  pass  there 
spoken  of  in  particular,  but  only  as  to  the  sin  in  general,  the 
apostle  ranks  it  with,  yea  aggravates  that  sin  of  sacrilege  above 
idolatry  in  the  New  Testament.     Rom.  ii.  22." 

The  ministry  of  Mr.  Shepard,  as  I  have  before  said,  was 
destined  to  be  a  short  one.  In  the  year  1677,  the  small  pox 
prevailed  very  extensively  in  this  place,  and  caused  great 
mortality.^  At  that  time  it  was  so  little  under  the  control  of 
medicine,  that  like  the  plague  it  spread  death  and  consternation 
on  every  hand.  To  discharge  the  duties  of  a  pastor  at  such  a 
juncture,  was  to  incur  the  loss  of  life.  But  Mr.  Shepard,  who 
since  the  death  of  the  venerable  Symmes  had  faithfully  per- 
formed all  the  duties  of  a  pastor  to  his  people,  was  not  deterred 
from  continuing  to  discharge  them  in  the  midst  of  these 
dangers.  One  of  his  flock  was  taken  with  the  disorder,  and 
desired  a  visit  from  him.  He  went  with  his  life  in  his  hand, 
expecting  to  be  arrested  by  the  fatal  contagion ;  as  an  elegy 
upon  his  death  expressed  it, 

"  Rather  than  run  from  his  work,  he  chose  to  die. 
Running  on  death,  sooner  than  duty  fly." 

"  Behold,"  says  Mather,  "a  shepherd,  who  was  'vir  sui  nomi- 
nis/'''  a  man  whose  name  expressed  at  once  his  character 
and  his  office. 

"  He   tranquilly  fell  asleep   in  the  Lord   Jesus,"    says  the 
Latin  epitaph  ^  upon  his  tombstone,   "  on  the  22nd  December, 

*The  names  of  ninety-one  persons  are  registered  as  having  died  of  tliis  disease  during  the 
winter  of  1(')77  and  8  in  this  lown,  and  a  special  order  was  passed  by  the  selectmen  that  the 
beJl  sliould  on  no  account  be  toiled  more  than  three  times  a  day,  because  of  the  discouraging 
effect  it  had  upon  those  who  were  sick  of  the  small  pox. 

«  Note  31 


77 

1677,  in  the  43rd  year  of  his  age,  wept  over  by  the  tears  of  all 
New  England;  and  evermore  to  be  lamented."  He  is  described 
to  have  been  "  a  very  holy  man,  much  distinguished  for  his 
erudition,  his  various  virtues,  and  winning  manners ;  a  learned 
theologian,  and  eminent  preacher  :  in  his  faith  and  life  a  true 
bishop :  a  meritorious  promoter  of  the  cause  of  letters,  having 
been  a  watchful  guardian  of  Harvard  College,  and  a  primary 
fellow  of  the  academical  government.  He  sought  not  his  own, 
but  the  things  of  Jesus  Christ.'^ 

The  following  verses  were  also  inscribed  upon  his  tomb. 

Let  fame  no  longer  boast  her  antique  things. 

Huge  pyramids  and  monuments  of  kings : 

This  cabinet  that  locks  up  a  rare  gem, 

Without  presumption  may  compare  with  them. 

The  sacred  reliques  of  that  matchless  one — 

Great  Shepard, — are  enshrined  below  this  stone. 

Here  lies  entombed  an  heavenly  orator. 

To  the  great  King  of  kings  embassador  : 

Mirror  of  virtues,  magazine  of  arts. 

Crown  to  our  heads  and  loadstone  to  our  hearts : 

Harvard's  great  son,  and  father  too  beside, 

Charlestown's  just  glory  and  New  England's  pride  : 

The  church's  jewel,  college's  overseer. 

The  clergy's  diadem  without  a  peer  : 

The  poor  man's  ready  friend,  the  blind  man's  eyes, 

The  wandering  wildered  soul's  conductor  wise  : 

The  widow's  solace,  and  the  orphan's  father. 

The  sick  man's  visitant,  or  cordial  rather  : 

The  general  benefactor,  and  yet  rare 

Engrosser  of  all  good;  the  man  of  prayer  ; 

The  constant  friend,  and  the  most  cheerful  giver. 

Most  orthodox  divine  and  pious  liver : 

An  oracle  in  any  doubtful  case, 

A  master-piece  of  nature,  art  and  grace. 

In  this  bed  lie  reposed  his  weary  limbs  ; 

His  soul's  good  company  for  seraphims. 

If  men  be  dumb  in  praising  of  his  worth. 

This  stone  shall  cry,  for  shame  I  and  set  it  forth  ! 

And  then  as  if  these  lines  were  altogether  unworthy  of 
their  subject,  a  Latin  distich  is  added,  which  declares  emphati- 
cally, '  that  if  no  verses  but  such  as  were  worthy  of  Shepard, 
should  be  inscribed  upon  his  tomb,  it  would  be  left  with- 
out any.' 

"  Si  Sheparde  tuo,  nisi  quae  sint  digna  sepulchre, 
Carmina  nulla  foreut,  carmina  nulla  foreut."  ' 

1  Mather's  Mag.  b.  4,  ch,  iv. 


78 

But  notwithstanding  the  turgid  extravagance  of  the  epitaph, 
the  warmth  and  energy  of  its  expressions  afford  sufficient 
evidence  that  Mr.  Shepard  was  held  in  the  highest  esteem  and 
affection  by  his  cotemporaries.  He  seems  to  have  been  beloved 
as  well  as  admired.  Cotton  Mather  tells  us  that  "  the  whole 
country  was  filled  with  lamentations  upon  his  decease ; "  and 
many  expressed  their  feelings  in  the  language  of  one  of  the 
many  elegies  bestowed  upon  him : 

"  Next  to  the  tears  our  sins  do  need  and  crave, 
I  would  bestow  my  tears  on  Shepard's  grave." 

At  the  next  commencement,  the  Rev.  Urian  Oakes,  Presi- 
dent of  the  College,  and  the  particular  friend  of  Mr.  Shepard, 
pronounced  a  warm-hearted  and  eloquent  eulogium  upon  his 
character,  in  the  course  of  a  Latin  oration,  delivered  before  the 
alumni  and  officers  of  the  institution.  From  this  tribute  to 
his  memory,  we  learn  that  "  he  was  possessed  of  undissembled 
piety  and  uncommon  learning,  united  with  modesty,  amiable 
manners,  and  noted  industry.  His  countenance  was  grave  ; 
his  words  well-considered  and  weighty ;  and  his  gestures  be- 
coming and  unaffected.  He  was  of  a  very  sedate  turn,  sin- 
cere and  open,  possessed  of  a  fertile  mind,  and  a  penetrating 
judgment,  and  distinguished  for  the  mildness  and  sweetness  of 
his  manners."  ^ 

Mr.  Shepard's  will  has  been  preserved  in  the  probate  office, 
and  bears  date,  June  5,  1676.     It  commences  as  follows: 

"I,  Thomas  Shepard,  being,  through  the  Lord's  mercy,  in 
good  health  at  this  present,  yet  not  knowing  how  soon  my 
earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  may  be  dissolved,  do  therefore 
make  my  last  will  and  testament  as  folio  we  th,  viz.  committing 
my  soul  into  the  everlasting  arms  of  my  dear  and  blessed 
Redeemer  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  believing  the  glorious 
resurrection  of  my  body  (after  its  decent  interment)  at  the 
last  day ;  and  also  leaving  my  dear  wife,  and  my  beloved 
children  Thomas,  Anna,  and  Margaret,  to  him  who  is  the  God 
of  the  widow  and  the  fatherless,  and  is  ever  mindful  of  his 
covenant,  and  [asj  he  hath  been  my  father's  God  and  mine,  so 
let  him  be  theirs  and  their  portion  forever." 

«  Note  33.    Mather's  Magnolia,  II.  102. 


79 

He  left  his  books  and  writings  to  his  son  Thomas  ,•  and 
bequeathed  £5  apiece  to  his  aged  and  honored  schoolmaster, 
Mr.  EHjah  Corlet  of  Cambridge  ;  to  his  honored  guardian  Capt, 
Daniel  Gookin,  whom  he  chose  at  his  father's  death,  when  a 
lad  of  fourteen ;  to  his  brother  Jeremiah,  and  to  his  cousin 
Thomas  Graves  ;  and  to  this  church,  "  my  dear  Lord's  precious 
flock"  —  the  money  to  be  expended  for  pieces  of  plate.  The 
will  concludes  with  the  Latin  and  Greek  words,  "Pasce  oves, 
Domine  Jesu,  dqyj-^oinBv,^^  His  estate  was  apprised  to  be  worth 
£2,386  ;  his  library,  £100. 

Thomas,  who  is  mentioned  in  the  will,  succeeded  his  father 
in  the  ministry,  as  will  be  mentioned  hereafter.  Anna  Shep- 
ard  was  married  to  Daniel  Ctuincy,  and  became  the  maternal 
ancestor  of  the  venerable  ex-president  of  the  United  States, 
their  son,  John  duincy,  being  the  person  after  whom  he  was 
named.  ^ 

The  death  of  Mr.  Shepard  left  the  church  without  a  minis- 
ter for  the  first  time.  This  vacancy  continued  for  more  than 
two  years,  during  which,  an  unhappy  division  grew  up  among 
the  people,  and  the  church  were  unable  to  unite  in  calling  a 
minister.  They  appear,  however,  to  have  united  in  extending 
a  call  to  the  Rev.  Joseph  Brown,  already  mentioned,  but  he 
declined  for  some  reason,  and  removed  to  Boston.  After  this 
a  call  was  given  to  Mr.  Daniel  Russell,  of  whom  also  mention 
has  been  made ;  but  to  this  a  minority  were  so  strenuously 
opposed,  that  a  council  was  found  necessary  to  compose  the 
difference.  Some  very  curious  papers^  have  been  preserved, 
respecting  this  case,  in  a  collection  by  John  Winthrop,  first 
governor  of  Connecticut,  whose  brother-in-law  was  scribe  of 
the  council. 

The  council  was  formed  on  the  5th  of  November,  1678, 
and  among  their  names  may  be  found  those  of  the  governor  and 
others  most  distinguished  both  in  church  and  state. 

One  of  the  papers  preserved  is  entitled,  "  A  Brief  Narrative 
of  some  of  the  most  considerable  Passages  of  this  Church,  and 
their  several  Committees  acting  since  the  death  of  our  dear 
and  revered  Teacher,  Mr.  Thomas  Shepherd,  who  departed 
this  life  the  22nd  Dec.  1677."     "  This  declaration  was  pre- 

>  Note  34.  »  3  Hist.  Coll.  I. 


80 

sented  by  the  church,  and  after  reading  in  the  pubHc  meeting, 
was  then  voted  by  them  as  the  substance  of  transactions  in  this 
matter." 

From  this  official  document,  it  appears,  that  soon  after  the 
death  of  Mr.  Shepard,  the  church  extended  a  unanimous  call 
to  Mr.  Joseph  Brown,  as  has  been  stated.  After  this,  the  com- 
mittee were  desired  '^  to  provide  transient  help  for  carrying  on 
the  worship  of  God  on  the  Lord's  days ;  and  likewise  some  of 
the  brethren  desired,  that  they  would  use  means  to  obtain  a 
settled  supply  as  soon  as  might  be."  At  this  time  the  com- 
mittee had  in  view  "Sir  Shepard," — the  son  of  their  late 
pastor,  and  "  agreed  to  invite  him  to  preach  with  us  one  ser- 
mon, that  so,  having  a  taste  of  the  gifts  and  graces  of  God 
bestowed  upon  him,  that  then  they  might  have  the  precedency 
of  any  other  people  in  that  matter.  But  it  was  concluded  that 
they  must  apply  themselves  to  the  obtaining  an  officer  sooner 
than  he  was  like  to  undertake  such  a  work."  For  this  pur- 
pose the  neighboring  ministers  were  applied  to  for  advice  who 
might  be  the  fittest  man  to  propound  to  the  church.  "  Capt. 
Laurence  Hammond,  Mr.  John  Heman,  and  James  Russell, 
went  to  Watertown  Lecture,  and  after  lecture,  went  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  Sherman,  where  was  also  Mr.  Willard  of  Boston  ; 
to  whom  they  declared  the  matter,  and  desired  their  advice. 
Mr.  Willard  mentioned  Mr.  Woodbridge  of  Hominossett ;  but 
they  replied,  they  were  not  willing  to  rob  any  place.  Mr. 
Sherman  then  mentioned  Mr.  Daniel  Russell,  and  Mr.  Isaac 
Foster,  and  then  concluded  that  Mr.  Foster,  was  the  fittest 
person  they  could  think  of  at  present.  The  Committee 
next  went  to  Rev.  Mr.  Oakes's  house,  the  President  of  Har- 
vard College,  and  he  recommended  Mr.  Foster.  Accord- 
ingly Mr.  Foster  was  propounded  to  the  church  the  next 
Sabbath  day.  Nothing  was  said  at  this  time  about  asking  the 
concurrence  of  the  young  Mr.  Shepard,  and  this  subsequently 
became  one  of  the  sources  of  grievance  on  the  part  of  the  dis- 
senting brethren.  At  the  same  time,  liberty  having  been 
given  to  the  church  to  propose  any  other  person,  the  following 
candidates  were  nominated,  Mr.  Daniel  Russell,  Mr.  Thomas 
Shepard,  Mr.  Samuel  Nowell,  Mr.  Zechary  Sims,  Mr.  Gershom 
Hubbard,"  (Hobart. )  The  church  were  desired  to  signify  their 
choice  at  the  next  church  meeting. 


81 

On  the  19th  May,  1678,  Mr.  Shepard  preached  his  first  ser- 
mon.^ The  week  following,  some  were  in  favor  of  proceeding 
to  give  him  a  call,  but  Mr.  Thomas  Graves  opposed  it  as  being 
likely  to  prejudice  his  interests,  and  then  it  was  concluded  to 
endeavor  to  obtain  another  officer  sooner  than  young  Shepard 
was  likely  to  be  prepared. 

On  June  9,  it  being  Sabbath,  the  church  was  staid  in  the 
evening,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Graves  inquired  of  the  church,  if 
they  had  determined  respecting  any  of  the  candidates  men- 
tioned. "Then  Mr.  Elias  Maverick  began,  and  propounded 
Mr.  Daniel  Russell,  a  person,  whose  parents  were  honorable 
amongst  us,  and  he  was  brought  up  with  us,  and  is  one  of  this 
church,  that  we  have  had  good  satisfaction  in,  he  judged  to  be 
a  meet  person.  In  this  nomination,  most  of  the  brethren 
agreed.  The  committee  were  called  upon  to  speak  ;  some 
concurred,  but  Capt.  Hammond  declared  that  he  judged  it 
unreasonable,  that  they  should  be  urged  so  suddenly  to  declare 
their  thoughts,  alleging  that  it  was  imposing  upon  them." 
After  some  discussion  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  meet  again 
after  an  interval  of  sixteen  days. 

At  the  next  meeting,  Mr.  Shepard  was  propounded  to  be  the 
first  man  to  be  called  to  office.  This  gave  rise  to  a  debate,  the 
majority  supposing  that  the  meeting  was  called  in  reference  to 
Mr.  Russell.  "  Capt.  Hammond  intimated  that  they  would  run 
a  hazard  of  losing  Mr.  Shepard,  if  they  proceeded  to  call 
Mr.  Russell.  Most  were  for  calling  both  Mr.  Russell  and 
Mr.  Shepard  at  that  time.  But  it  was  declared  by  Capt.  Ham- 
mond, Mr.  Graves,  and  Dea.  Ludkin,  that  the  church's  pro- 
ceedings were  irregular,  unreasonable,  and  out  of  the  way  of 
God."  This  gave  rise  to  much  discussion  and  excitement, 
and  "so  the  meeting  broke  up  without  concluding  anything." 

On  the  22nd  of  July,  the  matter  was  referred  to  the  church, 
the  committee  being  divided,  four  being  in  favor  of  extending 


1  He  was  at  this  time  not  quite  twenty  years  of  ag'e.  It  was  not  five  months  since  the 
death  of  his  father ;  and  he  rose  in  the  place  from  which  his  father  had  so  recently  fallen,  to 
address  his  father's  flock,  —  among  whom  he  had  heen  born,  baptized,  and  nurHired.  It 
must  have  been  a  solemn  and  afiecting  occasion,  hardly  less  so  to  the  people  than  the  youth- 
ful preacher.  With  a  judgment  as  much  evincing  his  good  taste  as  his  filial  affection,  he 
chose  for  the  text  of  his  first  discourse  the  following  highly  appropriate  words  :  "  He  is  my 
father's  God,  and  1  will  exalt  him."  Ex.  xv.  2.  With  such  a  text  and  on  such  an  occasion 
he  could  not  have  failed  to  be  eloquent.  We  are  told  that  "  he  discoursed  with  a  very 
charming,  solid,  and  serious  gravity." 
11 


a  call  to  Mr.  Russell  and  Mr.  Shepard,  and  five  against  it. 
After  some  discussion  who  should  be  put  to  vote  first,  although 
the  eyes  of  the  church  were  upon  Mr.  Russell  for  present  sup- 
ply, yet,  hoping  to  gratify  some,  it  was  agreed  that  Mr.  Shep- 
ard should  be  first  voted,  provided  both  were  voted  at  that 
time.  Accordingly  both  were  called  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry. 

The  next  Lord's  day,  the  congregation  were  staid  to  desire 
their  consent  to  the  action  of  the  church.  Mr.  Shepard,  in 
answer  to  the  call,  "  thankfully  acknowledged  the  church  and 
town's  love  to  his  honored  father  and  himself,  and  gave  them 
very  good  encouragement  that  they  might  in  time  enjoy  his 
help."  Mr.  Russell  replied  that  he  was  willing  to  help  them 
at  present  in  the  work  of  the  ministry.  And  the  church 
returned  him  thanks  for  his  acceptance  as  far  as  he  had  ex- 
pressed it,  and  desired  him  to  continue  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry  amongst  us." 

The  dissenting  brethren  being  still  dissatisfied,  the  majority 
decided  upon  calling  a  council ;  and  the  three  churches  in 
Boston,  together  with  those  of  Cambridge  and  Watertown 
were  invited. 

The  reasons  for  dissent  presented  to  the  council  by  the 
minority  were  the  following.  1.  They  judged  their  brethren 
to  have  been  too  undeliberate,  over-hasty,  and  precipitate  in 
their  motions  for  Mr.  Russell.  2.  They  had  not  used  any 
means  to  see  whether  Mr.  Shepard  could  freely  and  cheer- 
fully join  with  Mr.  Russell  in  the  work  of  the  ministry. 
3.  They  judged  that,  "  although  Mr.  Russell  might  be  of  good 
use  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  some  other  place,  he  was 
not  so  meet  for  the  managing  of  the  work  of  a  church  officer 
in  this  place  ;  and  consequently,  that  it  is  neither  safe  for  the 
church  to  call  him  thereunto,  nor  for  him  to  accept  thereof." 
These  reasons  of  dissent  were  signed  by  "  Laurence  Ham- 
mond, Thomas  Graves,  Jonathan  Hayman,  Aaron  Ludkin, 
Samuel  Ward." 

With  the  result  of  council  upon  these  particular  premises, 
we  are  not  acquainted.  Whatever  it  might  have  been,  the 
subject  of  contention  was  soon  removed  by  the  providence  of 
God,  for  Mr.  Russell  died  a  few  months  after,  in  January, 
1679.     This  event  left  Mr.  Shepard  alone  before  the  eyes  of 


83 

the  people,  and  he  appears  to  have  been  quietly  ordained  in  a 
little  more  than  a  year  after.  ^  His  ordination  is  thus  recorded 
by  himself  on  the  baptismal  register.  "  I  was  separated  unto 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  ordained  pastor  of  this  church, 
5th  May,  1680.     Pasce  oves,  6  not/ntv  o/zfjuc." 

It  will  be  seen  by  this  record  that  Mr.  Shepard  did  not  suc- 
ceed his  father  to  the  office  of  teacher ;  this  office  was  never 
again  filled  by  an  officer  especially  ordained  to  the  work. 
After  this  time  the  distinction  seems  to  have  been  lost.  But 
Mr.  Shepard  was  not  ordained  to  both  offices ;  and  especial 
assistance  seems  to  have  been  afforded  him  towards  the  supply 
of  the  pulpit. 

Upon  the  town  books,  under  the  date  of  September  1,  1679, 
we  find  the  following  minute.  "  Mr.  Thomas  Shepard  having 
accepted  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  this  town :  it 
is  therefore  ordered  that  he  shall  have  £100  per  annum,  and 
the  usual  allowance  to  be  given  to  what  transient  help  he 
see  cause  to  get  for  the  supply  of  the  ministry  in  this  town." 
And  April  5,  1680.  It  was  "  ordered,  that  there  be  allowed 
10s.  per  every  sermon  that  is  preached  by  strange  ministers." 

Mr.  Shepard  was  ordained  by  Mr.  Sherman  of  Watertown, 
and  received  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  from  his  father's 
bosom  friend,  President  Oakes.  According  to  the  uniform 
practice  of  the  time,  Mr.  Shepard  preached  his  own  ordination 
sermon.  He  took  his  text  from  Hebrews  xiii.  20.  "  That 
great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep."  An  introductory  sermon  ap- 
pears also  to  have  been  delivered,  which  probably  occupied 
the  place  of  our  modern  "address  to  the  people,"  and 
"  charge ;  "  this  discourse  was  founded  upon  Ez.  xxxiii.  7, 
"  Son  of  man  I  have  set  thee  a  watchman."  It  concluded  in 
the  following  manner  :  —  "Be  much  in  prayer  for  your  watch- 
man, and  particularly  for  him,  who  is  this  day  to  be  established 
in  the  work  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  among  you  ;  you  have 
honored  yourselves  in  thus  expressing  the  love  and  honor 
which  you  had  for  his  excellent  father  ;  and  as  it  was  said  in 
Ruth  ii.  20, — 'Blessed  be  he  of  the  Lord,  who  hath  not  left  off 
his  kindness  to  the  living,  and  to  the  dead ; '  so  I  will  say  to 
you,  Blessed  be  this  church  of  the  Lord,  that  you  show  kind- 

•1  Note  35. 


84 

ness  unto  yoiu*  dead  pastor,  and  to  his  living  son.  As  for  him, 
that  is  now  to  become  your  watchman,  he  needs  your  prayers ; 
I  may  say  of  him  as  David  of  Solomon,  'My  son  is  young 
and  tender,  and  the  house  is  magnificent.'  I  know  not 
whether  any  so  young  as  he,  was  ever  left  alone  with  such  a 
charge.  Now  though  the  loork  he  great,  yet  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  is  able  to  carry  him  well  through  it  all ;  but  it  must  be 
through  the  help  of  your  prayers,  that  he  comes  to  have  such 
a  supply  of  the  Spirit.  Pray  for  him  in  particular,  and  that 
every  day  !  Who  knows  what  God  may  do  for  you,  in  him, 
and  by  him,  as  in  and  by  his  father  before  him  ?  Let  it  be 
your  prayer,  that  he  would  take  of  the  Spirit  that  was  in  his 
father  and  grandfather  ;  who  were  both  of  them  great  men  in 
their  generation,  and  bestow  thereof  a  double  portion  upon  him. 
And  let  that  word  encourage  you,  '  My  Spirit  which  is  upon 
thee,  and  my  word  which  I  have  put  into  thy  mouth,  shall  not 
depart  out  of  thy  mouth,  nor  out  of  the  mouth  of  thy  seed, 
nor  out  of  the  mouth  of  thy  seed's  seed,  saith  the  Lord.'  " 

Cotton  Mather,  who  Avas  an  intimate  friend  of  Mr.  Shepard, 
and  only  two  years  his  junior  in  college,  has  devoted  a  some- 
what extended  chapter  to  his  life  ;  and  it  will  perhaps  be  the 
most  appropriate  conclusion  of  the  present  Lecture  to  derive 
from  this  source  some  account  of  his  early  education.^ 

Mather  says,  in  speaking  of  the  three  Shepards  of  New 
England,  that  "  there  was  such  a  similitude  of  spirit,  descend- 
ing from  the  father  to  the  son,  and  from  the  son  to  the  grand- 
son in  this  holy  generation,  that  albeit  they  were  all  of  them 
severally  short-lived,  the  two  first  not  living  more  than  forty, 
and  the  last  not  so  much  as  thirty  years,  yet  there  might  be  a 
sort  of  jointed  longevity  ascribed  unto  the  generation  ;  for 
when  the  father  went  away,  non  totals  recessit,  (he  did  not 
entirely  depart,)  we  had  him  still  surviving  to  the  life  in  the 
posterity." 

The  youngest  of  the  three,  and  the  last  of  the  name,  was 
born  in  this  place  on  the  3d  July,  1 658 ;  he  is  the  only  one  of 
our  ministers  who  was  a  baptized  child  of  this  church,  having 
received  this  ordinance  on  the  4th  of  the  same  month,  shortly 
before   his  father's  ordination  as  the  teacher  of  the  church. 

•  Magnalia,  b.  IV.  chap.  i.x. 


85 

The  date  of  his  admission  to  the  full  communion  of  the  church 
has  not  been  preserved ;  for  inasmuch  as  it  occurred  after  his 
father's  death,  and  while  the  church  were  without  a  minister, 
there  was  no  officer  to  keep  the  records  of  the  church.  It  was 
the  practice  of  the  earlier  days  to  give  a  verbal,  or  more  com- 
monly, a  written  account  of  the  candidate's  experience  before 
approaching  the  Lord's  Supper. 

Mather  has  preserved  a  portion  of  his  address  to  the 
church  on  this  occasion  ;  and  as  it  is  interesting,  I  will  quote 
the  whole  of  it.  "  As  to  the  thing  of  that  which  is  commonly 
called  first  conversion  or  regeneration,  I  have  had  many 
thoughts  about  it ;  but  have  been  afraid,  and  am  still,  to  deter- 
mine it  unto  this  or  that  particular.  What  I  have  found  by 
myself,  hath  made  me  oftentimes  to  question,  whether  the 
former  operations  of  the  Spirit  of  God  about  me,  were  any 
more  than  common  ;  or  whether  such  and  such  sins  were  con- 
sistent with  savi7ig  grace  ;  that  which  hath  helped  me  in  this 
case,  hath  been  partly,  what  I  have  heard  from  a  reverend  man 
of  God,  '  that  such  as  are  from  time  to  time  disquieted  with 
such  thoughts,  the  best,  if  not  the  only  way  to  put  it  out  of 
doubt,  that  they  have  ti'ue  faith  is  by  exercising  faith,  to  con- 
vert again  unto  God.'  And  putting  my  soul  in  the  way  of  the 
breathings  of  God's  Spirit,  and  then  observing  the  actings 
thereof,  I  have  by  the  help  of  the  same  Spirit,  found  something 
of  relief  under  those  doubts.  On  my  childhood  and  youth,  I 
have  too  much  cause  to  say  (as  Solomon  of  the  things  of  this 
world)  vanity  of  vanities,  all  is  vanity  !  Yet  by  the  blessing 
of  God  on  the  faithful  endeavors,  and  fervent  prayers  of  my 
religious  parents ;  especially  on  my  honored,  blessed,  and  most 
exemplary  father,  who  of  all  as  the  most  able  to  further,  so  was 
most  solicitous,  studious  and  tenderly  careful  always  about  the 
everlasting  well-being  of  a  son,  from  the  very  beginning  of  my 
days,  to  the  end  of  his,  I  do  think  I  was  by  precept  and  holy 
example,  imbued  with  a  natural  love  and  liking  to  the  ways  of 
God ;  though  not  saving,  yet  such  as  whereby  a  prejudice 
against  religion  was  prevented." 

Young  Shepard,  while  yet  a  child,  was  remarkable  for  his 
diligence,  and  love  of  study  ;  his  memory  was  so  retentive,  that 
on  the  evening  of  the  Lord's  day  he  was  wont  to  repeat  all  the 
heads  of  the  longest  sermons  preached  in  public,  and  when  the 


86 

length,  as  well  as  the  multitudmous  divisions,  which  characte- 
rized the  pulpit  discourses  of  that  period,  are  remembered,  this 
will  be  acknowledged  a  notable  instance  of  attention  and 
memory  in  a  boy. 

I  must  also  trespass  upon  your  patience  to  give  briefly  a 
sketch  of  the  paternal  counsels  given  Mr.  Shepard  upon  his 
admission  to  college,  inasmuch  as  they  will  reflect  light  upon 
the  character  of  both  father  and  son.  Thomas  entered  college, 
just  as  he  had  completed  his  fourteenth  year ;  and  his  father, 
to  secure  his  beloved  and  only  son  from  the  temptations  of  a 
college  life,  gave  him  a  paper  of  written  instructions,  imitating 
in  this  particular  the  example  of  his  own  father,  Thomas 
Shepard,  of  Cambridge.  The  sum  of  these  instructions  to  his 
son  was, 

1.  To  remember  that  the  great  end  of  his  life  was  to  glorify 
God  through  Christ,  and  of  this  period  of  preparation  to  fit  him 
for  the  most  glorious  work  of  the  holy  ministry.  "  For  this 
end,  your  father  hath  set  you  apart  with  many  tears,  and  hath 
given  you  up  to  God  that  he  might  delight  in  you.  And  (he 
wrote)  I  had  rather  see  you  buried  in  your  grave,  than  grow 
light,  loose,  wanton,  or  profane.  God's  secrets  in  the  holy 
Scriptures  are  never  made  known  to  common  and  profane 
spirits ;  and  therefore  be  sure  you  begin  and  end  every  day, 
wherein  you  study,  with  prayer  to  God ;  reading  some  part  of 
the  Scripture  daily,  and  setting  apart  some  time  every  day 
(though  but  one  quarter  of  an  hour)  for  meditation  of  the  things 
of  God. 

"  2.  Remember  that  these  are  times  of  much  knowledge, 
and  therefore  one  had  almost  as  good  be  no  scholar,  as  not  to 
excel  in  knowledge  ;  wherefore  abhor  one  hour  of  idleness,  as 
you  would  be  ashamed  of  one  hour  of  drunkenness.  Though 
I  would  not  have  you  neglect  seasons  for  recreation  a  little 
before  and  after  meals,  and  though  I  would  not  have  you  study 
late  in  the  night  usually,  yet  know  that  God  will  curse  your 
soul,  while  the  sin  of  idleness  is  nourished,  which  hath  spoiled 
so  many  hopeful  youths,  in  their  first  blossoming  in  the  college. 
Hence  don't  content  yourself  to  do  as  much  as  your  tutor  sets 
you  about,  but  know,  that  you  will  never  excel  in  learning, 
unless  you  do  somewhat  else  in  private  hours,  wherein  his  care 
cannot  reach  you." 


87 

3.  He  gave  him  several  directions  "  to  make  his  studies  as 
pleasant  and  fruitful  as  could  be,"  telling  him  that  "  reading 
without  meditation  will  be  useless ;  meditation  without  reading 
will  be  barren.  But  here  I  would  not  have  you  forget  a  speech 
of  your  blessed  grandfather  to  a  scholar,  that  complained  to 
him  of  a  bad  memory,  which  discouraged  him  from  reading, 
^  Lege,  lege,  aliqiiid  hcerehit.^  That  sentence  in  Proverbs, 
(xiv.  23,)  deserves  to  be  written  in  letters  of  gold  upon  your 
study  table,  '  In  all  labor,  there  is  profit.'  Pray  much  not  only 
for  heavenly  but  also  human  learning ;  for  remember  that 
prayer  at  Christ's  feet,  for  all  the  learning  you  want,  shall  fetch 
you  in  more  in  an  hour,  than  possibly  you  may  get  by  all  the 
books,  and  helps  you  have  otherwise,  in  many  years." 

4.  In  the  fourth  place,  he  exhorted  him  to  be  grave  and 
kind  in  his  carriage  towards  all  the  scholars  ;  and  warned  him 
against  certain  vices  of  many  scholars. 

'<  5.  Remember  to  intreat  God  with  tears,  before  you  come 
to  hear  any  sermon,  that  thereby  God  would  powerfully  speak 
to  your  heart,  and  make  his  truth  precious  to  you.  Neglect  not 
to  write  after  the  preacher  always  in  handsome  books,  and  be 
careful  always  to  preserve  and  peruse  the  same.  And  upon 
Sabbath  days,  make  exceeding  conscience  of  sanctification  ; 
mix  not  your  other  studies,  much  less  vain  and  carnal  discourses 
with  the  duties  of  that  holy  day,  but  remember  that  command, 
Lev.  xix.  30,  '  Ye  shall  keep  my  Sabbaths,  and  reverence  my 
sanctuary,  I  am  the  Lord.' 

"  6.  Remember  that  whensoever  you  hear,  read,  or  conceive 
any  divine  truth,  you  study  to  affect  your  heart  with  it,  and 
the  goodness  of  it.  Take  heed  of  receiving  truth  into  your 
head,  without  the  love  of  it  in  your  heart,  lest  God  give  you 
to  strong  delusions.  If  God  reveal  any  truth  to  you,  be  sure 
you  be  humbly  and  deeply  thankful." 

These  excellent  instructions  his  father  concluded  with  these 
words.  "  My  son  !  if  thine  heart  be  wise,  my  heart  shall  re- 
joice,— even  mine." 

The  solicitudes  and  labors  of  a  father,  thus  wise  and  faithful, 
were  not  in  vain.  Mather  says,  that  no  part  of  his  friend's 
character  was  more  conspicuous  than  this,  A  reverence  for  the 
person  and  advice  of  his  father ;  and  that  the  whole  of  his 
academic  life  may  be  abridged  into  this  brief  account,  that  he 


88 

did  make  the  heart  of  his  worthy  father  to  rejoice  by  his  con- 
scientious and  exemplary  attendance  upon  these  instructions. 
Whenever  he  had  occasion  to  speak  of  them,  it  was  in  these 
terms,  "My,  next  to  Christ,  most  beloved  father's  advice." 

Such,  my  hearers,  was  the  character  of  the  father  and  son, 
under  whose  joint  ministry,  of  about  twenty-five  years,  this 
church  and  town  were  guided  into  the  green  pastures  and  be- 
side the  still  waters  of  salvation.  They  were  men,  we  have 
reason  to  believe,  faithful  to  God  and  to  their  generation ;  long 
since  have  they  ceased  from  their  ministry,  and  entered  upon 
their  reward.  They  are  now  in  heaven  with  the  seals  of  their 
ministry  and  the  crowns  of  their  rejoicing.  They  are  now 
before  the  throne  of  God  above  ;  and  there  they  have  been 
together,  father  and  son,  pastors  and  people,  for  more  than  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years  ;  but  oh !  how  short  a  period  is  this  to 
be  in  heaven  ! 

And  how  glorious  a  place  is  heaven  !  When  we  look  upon 
it  as  the  present  residence  of  the  living  spirits  of  those,  who  in 
every  age  have  loved  the  cause  of  God,  and  man's  salvation, 
how  desirable  its  society !  It  would  be  delightful  to  meet  with 
them  now,  as  they  were  when  they  left  the  earth ;  but  what  a 
change  has  passed  over  their  minds  and  spirits  since  ;  they  are 
indeed  the  same  persons,  who  were  born,  renewed,  and  dis- 
ciplined here  on  earth,  but  all  else  how  changed  !  There  every 
tear  is  wiped  away,  there  the  source  of  tears  is  dried  up,  igno- 
rance is  dispelled  in  the  light  of  heaven,  the  crooked  made 
straight,  every  imperfection  and  every  infelicity  of  temper 
chased  away  like  clouds  before  the  sun.  To  meet  such  minds 
now,  to  receive  the  fellowship  and  communion  of  hearts  thus 
rich  in  the  experience  of  centuries  in  heaven  ;  what  joy,  what 
completion  of  all  our  hopes  and  aspirations  !  Blessed  be  God, 
for  the  comfortable  doctrine  of  the  communion  of  saints ;  and 
everlasting  thanks,  that  by  faith  and  patience  through  the  same 
Saviour,  we  may  tread  in  their  footsteps,  and  rise  to  their  in- 
heritance of  glory ! 


LECTURE    V. 


Zechariah    i.   5. 
Your  fathers,  where  are  they  ?    and  the  prophets,  do  they  live  forever  ? 

In  the  conclusion  of  the  last  Lecture,  some  account  was  given 
of  the  early  education  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Shepard,  third,  and 
his  ordination  to  the  pastoral  office  over  this  church.  Before 
proceeding  to  detail  the  few  events  we  possess  respecting  his 
brief  life  and  ministry,  it  is  necessary  to  call  your  attention  to 
the  synod  of  1679  and  80,  the  fourth  and  last  General  Council 
held  by  the  Churches  of  this  Commonwealth.  The  causes 
that  gave  occasion  to  the  calling  of  this  synod,  were  the  severe 
and.  repeated  judgments  of  God,  which  reminded  the  people  of 
their  departures  from  the  strict  principles  and  practices  of  their 
fathers. 

The  labors  of  the  husbandman  had  been  signally  unpro- 
ductive, in  consequence  of  worms  or  droughts  which  oc- 
curred for  many  successive  years ;  and  the  principal  grains  had 
almost  perished  under  an  unaccountable  blast.  Boston,  and 
the  chief  seats  of  trade,  had  greatly  suffered  by  fires;  and  by 
sea,  great  losses  had  befallen  the  merchants  from  shipwrecks, 
and  the  attacks  of  enemies  upon  their  vessels  and  sailors ;  the 
small-pox  also,  and  other  pestilential  diseases  had  occasioned 
great  mortality  among  the  people ;  and,  besides  all  this,^un- 
dreds  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  frontier  towns  had  been  butchered 
by  the  Indians. 

These  multiplied  frowns  of  Divine  Providence,  led  the  people 

to  inquire  into  the  causes  of  their  sufferings.     The  clergy  dwelt 

much,  in  their  public  discourses,  upon  the  prevailing  sins  of  the 

times  ;  many  of  the  churches  renewed  their  covenant  with  God 

12 


90 

and  each  other ;  and  the  General  Courts  enacted  laws  to  pro- 
mote the  work  of  reformation.  But,  as  is  usual  in  such  cases, 
there  was  a  great  diversity  of  opinion  in  respect  to  the  occasions 
or  moral  causes  of  the  divine  inflictions  under  which  they  suf- 
fered. Many  gave  very  strange  reasons  for  the  plagues  of  the 
country  ;  each  man's  opinion  being  formed  in  accordance  with 
his  private  interests  and  views  of  religion. 

To  determine  this  question,  therefore,  and  unite  the  minds  of 
the  people,  a  synod  was  convened  at  Boston,  September  10, 
1679 ;  a  general  fast  having  been  first  kept  by  the  churches,  to 
seek  the  blessing  of  God  upon  their  deliberations.  The  synod 
proceeded  to  consider  the  two  following  questions : 

1.  What  are  the  evils  that  have  provoked  the  Lord  to  bring 
his  judgments  on  New  England  ? 

2.  What  is  to  be  done  that  so  these  evils  may  be  reformed  ? 
In  answer  to  the  first  question,  the  synod  enumerated  the 

evils  to  be  found  among  them — sins  which  had  been  acknow- 
ledged before  the  Lord  on  days  of  humiliation  appointed  by 
authority,  and  yet  not  reformed;  many  of  which  were  .not 
punished  or  punishable  by  men,  and  were  therefore  (the  synod 
judged)  punished  by  God.  It  is  not  within  my  present  limits 
to  detail  all  the  moral  delinquencies  which  the  synod  mentioned 
under  thirteen  general  heads.  But  it  will  cast  light  upon  the 
moral  aspect  of  that  period,  to  notice  the  more  prominent. 

To  sum  up,  then,  as  briefly  as  possible,  the  answer  of  the 
synod, ^  to  the  first  question,  they  declared : 

(1.)  That  there  was  a  visible  decay  of  the  power  of  godli- 
ness amongst  many  professors  in  these  churches. 

(2.)  That  pride  abounded  in  New  England,  as  evidenced  in 
a  refusing  to  be  subject  to  order,  according  to  divine  appoint- 
ment ;  in  contention,  and  in  respect  of  apparel.  Servants,  and 
the  poorer  sort  of  people  are  notoriously  guilty  in  this  matter, 
who*too  generally)  go  above  their  estates  and  degrees,  thereby 
transgressing  the  laws  both  of  God  and  man.  Also,  many  not 
of  the  meaner  sort,  have  offended  God  by  strange  apparel,  not 
becoming  serious  Christians,  especially  in  these  days  of  afflic- 
tion and  misery. 

1  Maffnalia.  II-  273. 


91 

(3.)  That  church  fellowship,  and  other  divine  institutions  are 
greatly  neglected.  Many  of  the  rising  generation  are  not  mind- 
ful of  that  which  their  baptism  doth  engage  them  unto,  viz  : 
to  use  utmost  endeavors  that  they  may  be  fit  for,  and  so  par- 
take in  all  the  holy  ordinances  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  Nor  is  there 
so  much  of  discipline  extended  towards  the  children  of  the 
covenant,  as  we  are  generally  agreed  ought  to  be  done.  On 
the  other  hand,  human  inventions  and  will-worship  have  been 
set  up  even  in  Jerusalem. 

(4.)  That  the  holy  and  glorious  name  of  God  hath  been  pol- 
luted and  profaned  amongst  us,  by  oath  and  irreverent  behavior 
in  the  solemn  worship  of  God.  It  is  a  frequent  thing  for  men 
(though  not  necessitated  thereunto  by  any  infirmity)  to  sit  in 
prayer-time,  and  some  with  their  heads  almost  covered,  and  to 
give  way  to  their  own  sloth  and  sleepiness,  when  they  should 
be  serving  God  with  attention  and  intention,  under  the  solemn 
dispensation  of  his  ordinances.  We  read  of  but  one  man  in 
Scripture,  that  slept  at  a  sermon,  and  that  sm  had  liki3  to  have 
cost  him  his  life.     Acts  xx.  9. 

(5.)  There  is  much  Sabbath-breaking,  by  absence  from 
public  worship,  by  not  keeping  a  seventh  part  of  the  time  holy, 
in  consequence  of  difterent  apprehensions  about  the  beginning 
of  the  Sabbath  ;  by  walking  abroad  and  travelling  on  the  Sab- 
bath ;  by  attention  to  servile  callings  and  employments  after  the 
Sabbath  is  begun,  or  before  it  is  ended ;  and  by  worldly  and 
unsuitable  discom'ses. 

(6.)  They  allege  that  most  of  the  evils  that  abound  amongst 
us,  proceed  from  defects  as  to  family  government.  There  are 
many  families  that  do  not  pray  to  God  constantly,  morning  and 
evening  ;  and  many  more,  wherein  the  Scriptures  are  not  daily 
read,  that  so  the  word  of  Christ  might  dwell  richly  in  them. 
Children  have  not  been  kept  in  due  subjection,  and  thus  Christian 
parents  have  been  like  the  Indians ;  and  hence  they  have,  in 
God's  righteous  providence,  been  punished  by  the  Indians. 

(7.)  They  complain  of  inordinate  passions,  sinful  heats  and 
hatreds  among  church  members  themselves,  who  abound  with 
evil  surmisings,  uncharitable  and  unrighteous  censures,  back- 
bitings,  hearing  and  telling  tales — few  that  remember  and  duly 
observe  the  rule,  with  an  angry  countenance  to  drive  away  the 


92 

tale-bearer — reproachful  and  reviling  expressions,  sometimes  to, 
or  of  one  another. 

(8.)  There  is  much  intemperance.  That  heathenish  and 
idolatrous  practice  of  health-drinking,  is  too  frequent.  Train- 
ing days,  and  other  public  solemnities,  have  been  abused ;  and 
not  only  English,  but  Indians  have  been  debauched  by  those 
who  call  themselves  Christians,  who  have  put  their  bottles  to 
them,  and  made  them  drunk  also.  This  is  a  crying  sin,  and 
the  more  aggravated  in  that  the  first  planters  of  this  colony  did 
(as  is  in  the  patent  expressed)  come  into  this  land  with  a  design 
to  convert  the  heathen  unto  Christ ;  but  if  instead  of  that  they 
be  taught  wickedness,  which  before  they  were  never  guilty  of, 
the  Lord  may  well  punish  us  by  them. 

(9.  10.)  They  complain  of  a  want  of  truth  amongst  men, 
and  inordinate  affection  unto  the  world.  There  hath  been,  in 
many  professors,  an  insatiable  desire  after  land  and  worldly 
accommodations ;  yea,  so  as  to  forsake  churches  and  ordinances, 
and  to  live  like  heathen,  only  that  so  they  might  have  elbow 
room  enough  in  the  world.  Farms  and  merchandisings  have 
been  preferred  before  the  things  of  God.  In  this  respect,  the 
interest  of  New  England  seemeth  to  be  changed.  We  difier 
from  other  outgoings  of  our  nation,  in  that  it  was  not  any 
worldly  considerations  that  brought  our  fathers  into  this  wil- 
derness, but  religion,  even  so  that  they  might  build  a  sanctuary 
unto  the  Lord's  name  ;  whereas,  now,  religion  is  made  subser- 
vient unto  worldly  interests.  Wherefore,  we  cannot  but  sol- 
emnly bear  witness  against  that  practice  of  settling  plantations 
without  any  ministry  amongst  them,  which  is  to  prefer  the 
world  before  the  Gospel. 

(11.  12.  13.)  They  also  complained  of  opposition  to  the  work 
of  reformation,  a  want  of  public  spirit,  and  of  impenitency  and 
unfruitfulness  under  the  means  of  grace. 

In  answer  to  the  second  question,  "What  is  to  be  done?"  it 
was  recommended  among  other  things,  that  the  present  genera- 
tion should  declare  their  adherence  to  the  faith  and  order  of  the 
Gospel,  and  that  the  churches  should  solemnly  renew  their 
covenants,  maintain  discipline,  especially  towards  the  children 
of  the  church,  by  which  the  disputes  respecting  the  subjects  of 
baptism  would  be  comfortably  issued.  It  was  also  recommended 
to  the  churches,  to  use  their  utmost  endeavors  to  obtain  a  full 


93 

supply  of  officers,  according  to  Christ's  institution.  The  defect 
of  these  churches  is  very  lamentable,  there  being  in  most  of  the 
churches  only  one  teaching  officer  for  the  burden  of  the  whole 
congregation  to  lie  upon.  The  Lord  Jesus  Christ  would  not 
have  instituted  pastors,  teachers,  ruling  elders,  if  he  had  not  seen 
there  was  need  of  them  for  the  good  of  his  people  ;  and  there- 
fore, for  men  to  think  they  can  do  well  enough  without  them, 
is  both  to  break  the  second  commandment,  and  to  reflect  upon 
the  wisdom  of  Christ  as  if  he  did  appoint  unnecessary  officers 
in  his  church.  Where  there  are  great  congregations,  it  is  im- 
possible for  one  man,  besides  his  labors  in  public,  fully  to  attend 
to  personal  instruction  and  discipline.  Notwithstanding  this 
recommendation,  however,  the  distinction  between  pastor  and 
teacher  was  gradually  lost  sight  of,  although  the  practice  of 
having  two  ministers  was  still  adhered  to  by  many  of  our 
churches. 

The  synod,  to  carry  out  their  first  recommendation,  assembled 
again  in  the  spring  of  the  following  year.  May  12,  1680.  The 
result  of  this  synod  was  a  confession  of  faith,  drawn  up  in  the 
language  of  the  Westminster  confession,  with  a  few  variations 
from  that  of  the  Savoy.  They  chose  to  express  themselves  in 
the  words  of  those  reverend  assemblies,  (to  use  their  own  lan- 
guage) "that  so  they  might  not  only  with  one  heart,  but  with 
one  mouth,  glorify  God  and  oiir  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

This  confession  shows  that  our  fathers  held  to  the  catholic 
faith  of  the  Christian  church,  it  being  substantially  the  same  as 
the  confessions  of  all  the  reformed  churches  of  Europe.  It  is 
an  exposition  of  the  theological  doctrines  of  New  England  Con-  V^ 
gregationalism,  as  the  Cambridge  Platform  is  of  its  discipline  -^ 
and  government.  The  sentiments  and  practice  of  our  churches 
difi'er  in  certain  particulars  from  both  of  these  documents ;  but 
with  their  general  and  characterizing  principles  they  still 
harmonize. 

We  proceed  now  with  our  history  of  Mr.  Shepard's  ministry. 
He  was,  at  the  period  of  his  ordination,  a  very  young  man,  not 
yet  twenty-two  years  of  age  ;  but  his  mind  and  character  seem 
to  have  been  precociously  mature.  The  most  judicious  of  his 
people  were  constrained  to  admit  that  he  was  no  novice,  and 
such  was  the  purity  and  dignity  of  his  example,  that  he  let  no 
man  despise  his  youth.     The  gravity  of  his  deportment  kept 


94 

up  his  authority  among  all  classes,  while  his  courtesy  won  their 
affection.  His  outward  circnmstances  being  easy — for  his 
father  left  a  good  estate  for  those  days—he  was  distinguished 
for  the  charity  of  his  purse,  as  well  as  the  benevolence  of  his 
feelings.  As  might  be  inferred  from  his  parentage  and  educa- 
tion, he  was  conservative  in  his  sympathies,  a  zealous  promoter 
of  the  measures  recommended  by  the  reforming  synod,  and  a 
strict  adherent  to  the  theology  of  the  Puritan  fathers.  Mather 
says,  "  There  were  none  dearer  to  him  than  the  good  old  peo- 
ple ;  those  holy,  devout,  aged  souls,  who  had  grown  well 
towards  ripe  for  heaven  under  his  blessed  fathers  ministry  ; 
he  was  much  in  their  company,  and  he  valued  their  prayers  for 
him,  and  their  serious,  and  savory,  and  heavenly  communica- 
tions at  no  ordinary  rate.  Nor  shall  I  ever  forget  the  consolation 
which  he  told  me  he  had  received  from  the  words  which  one 
of  those  plain  old  saints  used  unto  him,  when  he  was  under 
discouraging  fears  how  he  should  go  through  his  work :  Sir, 
said  he,  if  you'll  give  up  yourself  to  do  the  ivork  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  never  fear  hut  he  will  help  you  to  do  yours ^ 

In  his  domestic  relations  he  appears  to  have  been  very  exem- 
plary. He  performed  the  worship  of  his  family  by  reading 
morning  and  evening  a  portion  of  Scripture,  and  offering  a 
prayer  founded  upon  it;  on  Saturday  nights  he  chose  to  repeat  a 
sermon,  commonly  one  which  had  been  preached  at  some  lecture 
the  foregoing  week,  or  one  of  his  deceased  father's ;'  and  on 
Sabbath  evening  he  repeated  the  sermon  of  the  day.  He  was  a 
laborious  student,  and  his  study  was  a  beloved  place.  He  not 
only  had  "a  fine,  large,  and  continually  growing  library,"  but 
his  books  bore  evidence  of  having  been  carefully  perused,  con- 
taining in  his  own  handwriting,  a  summary  of  their  contents, 
and  memoranda  of  the  most  remarkable  passages.  Indeed,  his 
health  appears  to  have  suffered  in  consequence  of  his  severe  ap- 
plication. His  habits  of  study  also,  were  remarkably  devout. 
"  He  thought  that  he  should  never  do  any  great  things  in  feed- 
ing his  flock,  if  he  did  not  great  things  in  fasting  by  himself." 
Accordingly  he  set  apart  one  day  in  every  month,  for  private 
fasting,  to  examine  his  own  spiritual  condition,  and  implore 
blessings  upon  his  people. 

1  Note  36. 


95 

In  the  preparation  of  his  discourses  for  the  pulpit,  he  began 
with  prayer ;  and  then  read  over  his  text  in  the  original,  and 
fixed  upon  its  meaning.  He  drew  forth  his  doctrines  and  the 
other  heads  of  his  discourse  in  the  beginning  of  the  week,  that 
he  might  avail  himself  of  his  occasional  thoughts.  He  arranged 
his  own  meditations  before  consulting  other  authors  ;  and  when 
he  had  finished  his  composition,  he  concluded  with  a  thanks- 
giving to  the  Lord,  his  helper.  In  the  delivery  of  his  sermons 
he  appears  not  to  have  excelled  ;  but  he  felt  what  he  spoke,  and 
spoke  what  he  felt. 

In  the  course  of  his  ministry,  he  discussed  in  a  series  of  dis- 
courses, a  variety  of  subjects.  In  reference  to  the  calamities 
and  prevailing  iniquities  of  the  time,  he  preached  forty-five 
sermons  on  the  prayer  of  Jonas;  the  last  of  which,  he  delivered 
about  a  month  before  his  death.  At  the  same  time,  but  on 
another  part  of  the  Lords  day,  he  preached  upon  the  evils  con- 
demned by  the  synod.  In  concluding  these  two  courses,  he 
delivered  two  sermons,  the  first,  to  awaken  the  obstinate,  from 
Jer,  xiii.  17.  "  If  ye  will  not  hear,  my  soul  shall  weep  in  secret 
places  for  your  pride."  And  the  other,  to  encourage  the  peni- 
tent, from  Matt.  xi.  28.  ''  Come  to  me  all  ye  that  labor,  and  I 
will  give  you  rest."  "And  he  was  never  after  heard  speaking 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord." 

So  faithful  were  his  endeavors  to  discharge  his  duty  as  a  pas- 
tor—watching for  souls  as  one  that  must  give  account — that, 
Mather  says,  "  Me  thinks  I  hear  him  give  up  this  account  unto 
the  Judge  of  all.  '  Gracious  Lord,  I  watched  that  I  might  see 
what  sort  of  temptations  did  most  threaten  my  flock,  and  I  set 
myself  to  strengthen  them  against  those  temptations.  I  watched 
that  I  might  see  what  sort  of  afliictions  did  most  assault  my 
flock,  and  I  set  myself  to  comfort  them  under  those  afliictions. 
I  did  watch  to  learn  what  sort  of  duties  were  most  seasonable 
to  be  recommended  to  my  flock,  and  I  vigorously  recommended 
them  in  the  seasons  thereof.  I  did  watch  to  see  what  souls  of 
my  flock  did  call  for  my  more  particular  addresses,  and  I  often 
addressed  one  or  other  of  them.  Yet  not  I,  but  the  grace  which 
was  with  me.'" 

The  labors  of  Mr.  Shepard  were  not  in  vain  ;  God  encouraged 
him  by  making  such  additions  to  the  church,  as  few  churches 
in  the  country  at  that  time  received.     He  has  recorded  the 


96 

names  of  sixty  persons — twenty  males  and  forty  females — as 
received  to  the  full  communion  of  the  church ;  and  this  during 
his  brief  ministry  of  five  years,  shows  an  average  increase  of 
twelve  for  each  year,  which  is  a  larger  number  than  the  average 
of  admissions  under  his  father,  or  since  the  organization  of  the 
church. 

The  only  vote  of  the  church,  recorded  by  Mr.  Shepard  during 
the  period  of  his  ministry,  is  the  following : 

"  March  8,  1685.  Voted  and  concurred  in  by  the  church,  that 
mew's  relations  (their  own  pronouncing  them  having  been  con- 
stantly found  inconvenient)  be  for  the  future  read:  Nemine 
contradicente.     T.  S." 

Originally,  in  the  formation  of  the  first  Puritan  churches, 
those  who  sought  admission  were  privately  examined  by  the 
ministers ;  but  in  the  year  1634,  one  of  the  brethren  was  present 
at  an  examination,  and  was  so  much  interested,  as  to  awaken  a 
desire  in  others  to  be  present,  until  at  length  the  whole  church 
attended.^  It  then  became  the  practice  for  men  to  give  a  verbal 
account  of  their  religious  experience,  or  relations,  as  they  were 
called,  while  those  of  the  women  were  written  and  read.  It 
will  be  remembered  that  Mr.  Shepard,  on  being  admitted  to  the 
church,  made  a  statement  of  his  religious  views  and  experience. 
This  practice,  however,  being  attended  by  many  inconveni- 
encies,  it  was  resolved  by  our  church  at  this  date,  and  by  the 
Old  South  also  about  the  same  time,  to  dispense  with  oral,  and 
receive  written  relations.  This  latter  mode  becoming  after  a 
few  years  a  mere  form,  it  was  dropped,  and  our  churches 
returned  to  the  former  mode  of  examinations  before  the  officers 
of  the  church,  to  whom  is  now  commonly  added  a  committee 
of  the  brethren. 

The  above-mentioned  vote  of  the  church  was  passed  just 
three  months  before  the  sudden  and  lamented  death  of  their 
youthful  pastor.  About  this  time  he  was  preaching  a  series  of 
thirteen  sermons  on  those  words  of  the  Preacher  in  Ecclesiastes 
xii.  5:  ''Man  goeth  to  his  long  home,"  His  friend  tells  us 
that  "  he  had  a  strange  and  strong  presage  on  his  own  mind, 
that  he  was  himself  to  be  not  long  from  that  home."  His  family 
were  short-lived.     His  grandfather,  of  Cambridge,  died  in  his 

iMagnalia,  11.209. 


97 

forty-fourth  year,  his  father  in  his  forty-tliird  year  ;  and  he  him- 
self had  a  presentiment  that  he  should  not  outhve  the  age  of 
twenty-seven,  at  which  his  uncle  died,  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Shepard,  tlihd  pastor  of  the  church  in  Rowley — a  man  so  much 
beloved  by  his  people,  that  they  would  have  plucked  out  their 
eyes  to  have  saved  his  life." 

This  apprehension  of  early  death  seems  to  have  deeply 
impressed  the  mind  of  Mr,  Shepard,  and  influenced  both  his 
preaching  and  his  conduct,  so  that  he  stood  prepared  for  the 
sudden  visitation  which  at  last  befell  him.  By  a  surprising 
coincidence  with  his  unaccountable  forebodings,  he  expired  on 
Sabbath  night,  June  7,  1685,  after  an  illness  of  one  or  two  days, 
when  he  was  a  month  short  of  tv/enty-seven.  He  was  some- 
what indisposed  on  Friday,  but  continued  his  labors  all  the  day 
following,  to  be  ready  for  the  Lord's  day,  when  he  was  to  have 
administered  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper.  But,  on 
Saturday  night,  his  illness  grew  so  much  upon  him,  that  he 
desisted,  and  said  to  his  wife,  '■'■  I  would  gladly  have  been  once 
more  at  the  table  of  the  Lord,  but  I  now  see  that  I.  shall  no 
more  partake  thereof,  until  I  (Jo  it  after  a  new  manner  in  the 
kingdom  of  heaven!"  "On  Lord's  day  noon,"  says  Cotton 
Mather,  who,  together  with  Mr.  Nathaniel  Gookin,  supplied  the 
pulpit  that  day,  "  I  visited  him,  and  at  my  parting  with  him, 
he  said,  '  my  hopes  are  built  on  the  free  mercy  of  God,  and  the 
rich  merit  of  Christ,  and  I  do  believe,  that,  if  I  am  taken  out  of 
the  world,  I  shall  only  change  vaj  place  ;  I  shall  neitlier  change 
my  company^  nor  change  my  communion  ;  and  as  for  you,  sir, 
I  beg  the  Lord  Jesus  to  be  with  you  until  the  end  of  the 
world  !  '  After  this  he  said  but  little  to  his  attendants,  but 
was  often  overheard  pouring  out  prayers,  and  especially  for  the 
widow-church  (as  he  often  expressed  it)  which  he  was  to  leave 
behind  him.  And  in  the  night  follov/ing,"  says  Mather,  "  to 
the  extreme  surprise  of  his  friends  on  earth,  he  went  away  to 
those  in  heaven." 

The  surprise  with  which  the  intelligence  of  Mr.  Shepard's 
death  was  received  by  his  friends,  is  well  expressed  by  Judge 
Sewall,  in  his  MS.  journal,  the  day  after  it  occurred.  "Asaph 
Eliot  comes  in  and  tells  me  the  certain  news,  doleful  news,  of 
Mr.  Shepard  of  Charlestown,  his  being  dead;  of  whose  illness 
I  heard  nothing  at  ail.  Saw  him  very  well  this  day  sennight. 
13 


98 

Was  much  smitten  with  the  news.  Was  taken  on  Friday  night  ; 
yet  being  to  preach  and  administer  the  Lord's  supper  on  Sab- 
bath day,  forbore  physick,  at  least  at  first." 

His  funeral  took  place  on  Tuesday,  June  9th.  The  gover- 
nor, lieutenant  governor,  and  magistrates,  together  with  some 
of  the  most  distinguished  clergymen,  were  present ;  the  faculty 
of  Harvard  College  were  also  present,  inasmuch  as  he  was  one 
of  the  overseers  of  that  institution — and  the  students  walked 
before  the  hearse.  The  pall-bearers  were  Mr.  Mather,  Mr. 
Simmes,  Mr.  Willard,  Mr.  Hubbard  of  Cambridge  (Hobart  of 
Newton),  Mr.  Nathaniel  Gookin,  and  Mr.  Cotton  Mather.  Judge 
Sewall  says  "  that  there  were  some  verses,  but  none  pin'd  on 
the  herse ; "  this  refers  to  a  practice  in  those  days,  of  compos- 
ing complimentary  verses  upon  the  deceased,  and  attaching  them 
to  the  hearse. 

In  addition  to  the  account  which  has  now  been  given  of  Mr. 
Shepard's  life,  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  say  much  of  his 
character.  For  so  young  a  man,  he  possessed  an  extensive 
acquaintance  with  theology.  He  had  no  sympathy  with  the 
new  divinity  of  the  day,  but  was  ardently  attached  to  ortho- 
doxy, and  able  in  defending  the  truth  against  Arminian  oppo- 
sers.  "He  looked,"  says  Mather,  "upon  many  late  books 
written  to  undermine  the  orthodox  articles  of  the  Church  of 
England,  by  persons  who  perhaps  had  got  into  preferment  by 
subscribing  those  very  articles,  as  books  that  indeed  betrayed 
the  Christian  religion  under  pretence  of  upholding  it."  Among 
his  favorite  authors,  were  Usher,  Caryl,  Owen,  Sherlock,  and 
Hooker. 

The  facts  which  I  have  given,  have  been  chiefly  derived 
from  Cotton  Mather,  who  was  (as  I  have  before  said)  but  two 
years  the  junior  of  Mr.  Shepard  in  college,  and  who  has  drawn 
his  friend's  character  with  the  warm  coloring  of  personal  affec- 
tion and  admiration.  "  I  confess,"  he  says,  "my  affection  unto 
my  dear  Shepard  to  have  been  such,  that  if  I  might  use  the 
poet's  expression  of  his  friend,  animm  diinidium  mece,  I  must 
say,  I  am  ha  If  buried  since  he  is  dead  ;  or,  he  is  but  half  dead 
since  I  am  alive. ''^ 

"  Dear  Shepard,  sure  we  dare  not  call  thee  dead  : 
Tho'  gone,  thou'rt  but  unto  thy  kindred  tied." 


99 

By  the  decease  of  Mr.  Shepard,  the  church  was  again  left 
without  a  pastor  and  teacher  ;  nor  do  we  know  to  whom  the 
minds  of  the  people  were  directed,  until  the  arrival  in  this 
country,  the  following  summer,  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Morton, 
whose  celebrity  for  great  and  various  acquisitions  drew  towards 
him  at  once  the  attention  not  merely  of  this  town,  but  of  the 
community  at  large.  This  gentleman  was  born  at  Pendavy,  in 
the  county  of  Cornwall,  in  the  year  1626.^  His  father,  the 
Rev.  Nicholas  Morton,  was  minister  of  St.  Mary  Overy's,  in 
Southwark,  where  he  died.  Two  of  his  brothers  were  also 
clergymen.  He  descended  from  an  ancient  and  honorable 
family  at  Morton  in  Nottinghamshire,  the  seat  of  Thomas  Mor- 
ton, who  was  secretary  to  king  Edward  HI.  in  the  fourteenth 
century.  At  the  age  of  fourteen,  he  was  sent  by  his  grand- 
father to  Wadham  College  in  Oxford,  where  he  applied  himself 
with  great  diligence  to  study,  and  became  very  zealous  for  the 
rites  and  ceremonies  of  the  Church  of  England,  after  the  exam- 
ple of  his  grandfather,  who  was  a  great  royalist.  When  the 
civil  wars  came  on,  however,  he  observed  that  the  most  virtuous 
part  of  the  nation  were  on  the  side  of  the  parliament  against 
the  king,  and  this  is  said  to  have  led  him  to  examine  the  con- 
troversy ;  the  consequence  of  which  was,  that  he  sided  with 
the  Puritans.  While  he  was  fellow  of  the  college,  he  greatly 
distinguished  himself  by  his  mathematical  genius,  as  he  did 
indeed  by  his  general  scholarship.  After  leaving  college,  he 
settled  in  the  ministry  in  Blisland,  where  his  father  had  settled 
before  him  and  from  which  he  had  been  ejected  for  non-con- 
formity, and  here  he  lived  comfortably  for  several  years.  From 
this  living,  however,  he  was  ejected  by  the  act  of  Uniformity 
of  1662,  and  afterwards  lived  in  a  small  house  of  his  own  in 
the  parish  of  St.  Ives,  where  he  preached  to  a  few  people  of  a 
neighboring  village  until  the  great  fire  of  London.  By  that 
event  he  suffered  great  losses,  and  was  compelled  to  remove  to 
London  that  he  might  take  care  of  his  affairs.  Here  he  was 
prevailed  upon  to  engage  in  the  instruction  of  youth,  for  which 
he  was  singularly  fitted,  and  which  he  prosecuted  with  distin- 
guished success  for  some  years  at  Newington  Green.  He  edu- 
cated some  scores  of  ministers,  and  many  of  his  scholars  attained 

'  Calamy's  Non-Conformist's  Memorial. 


100 

distinction  both  in  church  and  state.  De  Foe,  the  celebrated 
author  of  Hobinson  Crusoe,  was  one  of  his  pupils.  He  is  said 
to  have  had  a  peculiar  tact  in  winning  youth  to  the  love  of 
virtue  and  learning,  both  by  his  pleasant  conversation  and  a 
familiar  way  he  had  of  making  difficult  subjects  intelligible. 
The  design  of  Mr.  Morton's  academy  at  Newington  Green  was 
to  extend  the  privileges  of  a  liberal  education  to  Dissenters,  who 
were  excluded  from  the  national  universities.  He  carried  his 
pupils  not  only  through  the  literary  and  scientific  studies  pursued 
at  college,  but  also  gave  lectures  to  those  who  were  preparing 
for  professional  life.  Twenty  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in 
this  useful  and  honorable  employment ;  but  during  the  whole 
period  he  was  subjected  to  continual  processes  from  the  bish- 
ops' courts,  to  which  he  was  compelled  at  length  to  yield,  and, 
in  consequence  of  the  aspect  of  public  affairs  in  England,  to 
betake  himself  to  this  country.  Among  the  motives  that 
induced  him  to  remove  to  New  England,  was  the  expectation 
afforded  him  of  presiding  over  Harvard  College.  But  when  he 
arrived,  the  political  condition  of  the  country  was  so  changed — 
James  H.  having  revoked  the  charter,  dissolved  the  General 
Court,  and  placed  the  colony  under  arbitrary  rule — that  it  was 
inexpedient,  if  not  impossible,  to  intrust  the  college  to  one  so 
obnoxious  to  the  government  as  Mr.  Morton.  His  fitness  for 
the  station,  however,  was  universally  conceded ;  the  office  of 
vice-president  was  created  for  him,  and  he  would,  no  doubt, 
have  been  elected  president,  had  his  life  been  prolonged.  He 
was  followed  to  this  country  by  two  or  three  young  men,  who 
attended  his  lectures  on  philosophy,  which  he  read  at  his  own 
house  ;  and  his  fame  as  an  instructor  was  beginning  to  draw  to 
him  several  from  the  college ;  but  this  causing  great  uneasiness 
in  the  corporation,  he  was  forced  to  decline  teaching  any 
farther. 

Of  the  welcome  reception  which  Mr.  Morton  received  on  his 
arrival  in  this  country,  we  have  an  account  in  the  journal  of 
John  Dunton,^  who  has  left  us  a  very  lively  narration  of  what 
he  saw  during  a  visit  he  made  to  Boston  in  1686,  bringing  with 
him  letters  of  introduction  from  various  persons  in  England,  and 
among  the  rest  from  Mr.  Morton  himself. 


'2Mass.  Hist.  Coll.  11.115. 


101 

He  had  been  making  a  visit  to  Natick,  where  he  had  gone 
to  see  with  his  own  eyes  what  Christianity  had  done  for  the 
Indians,  and  to  hear  Mr.  Ehot  preach  to  them  ;  and  upon  his 
return,  he  says : 

"  Upon  my  coming  to  Boston,  I  heard  that  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Morton,  so  much  celebrated  in  England  for  his  piety  and  learn- 
ing, was  just  arrived  from  England,  and  with  him  his  kinsman, 
Dr.  Morton  the  physician.  The  news  of  Mr.  Morton's  arrival 
was  received  here  with  extraordinary  joy  by  the  people  in 
general,  and  they  had  reason  for  it,  for  besides  his  being  a  useful 
man  in  fitting  young  men  for  the  ministry,  he  always  gave  a 
mighty  character  of  New  England,  which  occasioned  many  to 
fly  to  it  from  the  persecution  which  was  then  raging  in  London." 
"  I  know  it  would  be  presumption  in  me,"  he  continues,  "  to 
draw  Mr.  Morton's  character  ;  yet,  being  personally  acquainted 
with  him,  I  cannot  but  attempt  something  like  it.  His  conver- 
sation showed  him  a  gentleman — he  was  the  very  soul  of 
philosophy ;  the  several  manuscripts  he  writ  for  the  use  of  his 
private  academy,  sufliciently  showed  this.  He  was  the  reposi- 
tory of  all  arts  and  sciences,  and  of  the  graces  too ;  his  dis- 
courses were  not  stale  or  studied,  but  always  new  and  occasional,, 
for  whatever  subject  was  at  any  time  started,  he  had  still  some 
pleasant  and  pat  story  for  it.  His  sermons  were  high,  but  not 
soaring — practical,  but  not  low  ;  his  memory  was  vast  as  his 
knowledge,  yet  (so  great  was  his  humility)  he  knew  it  the  least 
of  any  man  ;  he  was  as  free  from  pride  as  ignorance,  and  if  we 
may  judge  of  a  man's  religion  by  his  charity,  (and  can  we  go 
by  a  surer  rule  ?)  he  was  a  sincere  Christian."  ^ 

We  may  readily  suppose  that  this  church  and  town  did  not 
delay  long  in  making  the  necessary  arrangements  to  secure  the 
services  of  Mr.  Morton  as  their  minister.  He  arrived  in  the 
month  of  July,  16S6,  and  in  the  following  November  (5th)  he 
was  solemnly  inducted  into  the  pastoral  office,  after  the  ''  widow- 
church" — as  the  dying  young  Shepard  called  it — had  been 
without  a  pastor  about  a  year  and  a  half. 

There  was  something  peculiar  about  the  method  in  which 
Mr.  Morton  entered  upon  the  pastoral  office.  He  himself 
called  it  an  induction ;  it  was  properly  an  installation,  as  that 

1  Note  37. 


102 

word  is  now  used  in  distinction  from  ordination,  and  is  probably 
the  first  instance  in  which  this  distinction  was  recognised. 

It  win  be  remembered  that  the  Rev.  John  Wilson,  and  all 
the  first  Puritan  ministers,  who  had  received  ordination  in 
England,  were  re-ordained  with  the  imposition  of  hands  afresh, 
when  they  took  upon  them  the  charge  of  a  particular  church. 
The  design  of  this  was  not  to  deny  the  validity  of  their  former 
ordination,  but  to  teach  a  principle  of  Congregationalism,  incor- 
porated into  the  Platform,  and  there  expressed  in  these  words : 
"  He  that  is  clearly  loosed  from  his  office-relation  unto  the 
church  whereof  he  was  a  minister,  cannot  be  looked  at  as  an 
officer,  nor  perform  any  act  of  office  in  any  other  church,  unless 
he  be  again  orderly  called  unto  office  ;  which  when  it  shall  be 
we  know  nothing  to  hinder  but  imposition  of  hands  ought  to 
be  used  towards  him  again."  It  Avas  under  the  influence  of 
these  sentiments  that  Mr.  Cotton  thought  himself  incompetent 
to  baptize  his  infant  son,  born  at  sea.  because  there  was  no 
church  on  ship-board,  and  as  a  minister  he  had  no  right  to 
administer  the  seals  except  in  his  own  church. 

This  extreme  and  rigid  opinion  was  now  giving  way,  and 
Mr.  Morton,  by  the  influence  of  his  character  and  example, 
contributed  not  a  little  to  bring  it  into  discredit.  Indeed  it  is 
rather  a  feature  of  Independency,  than  Congregationalism. 
Judge  Sewall  was  present  at  the  installation,  and  from  his 
account  ^  we  learn  that  the  new  practice  was  not  pleasing  to  all. 
In  the  first  place  opportunity  was  offered  to  the  church,  and  to 
all,  to  ofl"er  objections  if  they  had  any,  and  then  the  vote  of  the 
church  was  taken.  Mr.  Morton  preached  from  Rom.  i.  16, 
*'  For  I  am  not  ashamed  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ ;  for  it  is  the 
power  of  God  unto  salvation,  to  every  one  that  believeth ;  to 
the  Jew  first,  and  also  to  the  Greek."  He  alluded  very  pithily 
to  the  5th  of  November,  the  day  of  his  installation,  which 
was  the  anniversary  of  Thanksgiving  in  England  for  their 
deliverance  from  the  Gunpowder  Treason  ;  he  said  that  just  the 
contrary  to  what  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans  inculcated  was 
taught  and  practiced  at  Rome.  Mr.  Mather  gave  him  his 
charge,  and  "  spoke  in  praise  of  the  Congregational  way,  and 


'  Am.  Quart.  Reg.  xiii.  44.     In  this  periodical  will  be  found  much  valuable  information 
respecting  our  church,  in  a  series  of  articles  furnished  by  Kev.  Samuel  Sewall  of  Burlington. 


103 

said,  were  he  as  Mr.  Morton,  he  would  have  hands  laid  on  him." 
Mr.  Moodey  also  in  his  prayer  alluded  to  the  subject,  and 
intimated  that  "  that  which  would  have  been  grateful  to  many 
(viz  :  laying  on  of  hands)  was  omitted." 

Mr.  Morton  was  sixty  years  of  age  when  he  entered,  in  this 
manner,  upon  the  duties  of  a  pastor  in  this  church — a  period  of 
life  much  more  advanced  than  any  other  of  our  ministers  had 
attained  to  at  the  time  of  settlement.  During  his  ministry  of 
nearly  twelve  years,  fifty-nine  were  admitted  to  full  communion 
with  the  church,  and  six  hundred  twenty-three  baptized,  two 
hundred  eighty-four  males  and  three  hundred  thirty-nine 
females. 

Before  concluding  this  discourse,  I  cannot  refrain  from  making 
a  few  observations  upon  the  mutability  of  human  affairs. 
Verily  man  walketh  in  a  vain  show !  In  dwelling  upon  the 
events  to  which  our  attention  has  been  called,  we  have  wit- 
nessed but  a  representation  of  the  shifting  scenes  in  which  we 
are  ourselves  actors !  We  have  been  thinking  over  again  the 
thoughts  of  men  long  dead,  we  have  been  moving  in  the  midst 
of  a  generation  of  shadows,  the  magistrates  and  pastors  and 
people  of  olden  time  have  passed  before  us,  we  have  beheld 
them  again  agitated  with  the  desires  and  hopes  and  fears  of 
life.  It  is  an  impressive  thing  to  walk  the  earth  in  imagina- 
tion, with  forms  that  are  dust  now — whose  voices  and  passions 
have  been  left  far  behind  us  in  the  lapse  of  time — whose  projects 
and  hopes  are  low  beneath  our  feet,  like  autumn's  leaves ;  for 
the  reflection  cannot  but  recur  with  force  to  every  mind,  that 
as  they  and  theirs  now  are,  so  shall  we  soon  be  !  How  profita- 
ble the  lessons  of  history  !  Each  tolling  bell,  that  marks  the 
passing  away  of  life,  utters  the  same  lesson  which  time  has 
been  teaching  since  it  first  began  to  mete  off  man's  probation ; 
vanity  and  change — the  same  allotments  happen  to  all  alike ! 
With  all  the  variety  of  life — variety  enough  to  interest  and 
excite  each  successive  generation  of  men — the  experience  of 
man  is  still  the  same.  Upon  this  same  theatre — for  these  houses 
and  lands — you  contend,  and  then  retire,  and  leave  others  to  act 
over  the  same  scenes,  and  with  a  like  result ! 

We  have  wept  by  the  bier  of  the  youthful  Shepard,  and  have 
looked  with  reverence  upon  the  ancient  men  of  that  early  gen- 
eration.    So,  too,  are  the  aged  and  the  young  among  us  ;  and 


104 

among  us  the  blighting  of  early  promise,  and  the  falling  of 
hopes  that  have  opened  to  fade  and  drop.  I  have  had  occasion 
before,  to  allude  to  the  few  survivors  of  the  Pilgrim  generation. 
As  we  have  seen  a  few  leaves  clinging  to  a  naked  tree,  and 
sometimes  the  young  and  tender  ones  holding  on  till  mid-win- 
ter notwithstanding  frost  and  tempest ;  so  a  few  of  that  first 
generation  out-lived  the  privations  of  their  settlement  in  the 
wilderness,  and  saw  their  children's  children,  in  an  old  age  full 
of  years  and  honors.  By  the  kindness  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sewall, 
of  Burlington,  I  have  been  furnished  with  an  extract  from  his 
ancestor's  journal,  which  makes  mention  of  the  death  and 
funeral  of  the  relict  of  Increase  Nowell,  and  a  few  others  who 
were  probably  among  the  last  of  Winthrop's  companions. 

"  1687.  March  22.  A  considerable  snow  on  the  ground  which 
fell  last  night.  Mrs.  Eliot,  of  Roxbury,  dies.  Now  about, 
Goodman  Francis,  an  ancient  and  good  man  indeed,  of  Cam- 
bridge, dies.  Friday,  March  25.  Mrs.  Nowell,  Samuel  Nowell 
Esq's,  mother  dies.  28.  Went  to  Mrs.  Eliot's  funeral,  which 
was  a  very  great  one  ;  no  scarfs.  29.  To  Mrs.  Nowell's,  the 
widow  of  Mr.  Increase  Nowell,  a  Patentee.  Mr.  Danforth, 
Davie,  Richards,  Russell,  Cook,  Sewall,  bearers.  None  else  of 
the  old  government  were  there  but  Mr.  Secretary  Rawson.  I 
helped  to  lift  the  corpse  into  Mr.  Shepard's  tomb,  and  to  place 
it  there,  carrying  the  head.  Mr.  Nowell  went  not  in.  Eighty- 
four  years  old." 

Thus  have  they  passed  away — the  dead  and  they  that  buried 
their  dead  !  How  emphatically  do  the  places  that  once  knew 
them — not  only  the  places  of  their  abode,  but  the  places  of  their 
sepulture — know  them  no  more  for  ever.  The  memorials  of 
nearly  all  the  first  settlers  have  been  effaced  by  the  action  of 
time,  or  destroyed  by  the  desolating  war,  which,  a  century  after, 
laid  the  town  in  ashes,  and  left  to  the  violence  of  soldiers  the 
hill  where  the  fatliers  were  gathered  together  in  the  sleep  of 
the  grave.  You  will  search  in  vain,  among  the  sunken  and 
inclining  stones  of  your  burying-hill,  for  the  names  so  familiar 
to  your  early  history ;  not  one  of  the  names  of  the  early 
religious  teachers  of  the  church,  Symmes,  Harvard,  the  elder 
and  younger  Shepard,  or  the  aged  Morton,  can  now  be  found. 
But  they  are  not  and  never  can  be  forgotten.  Their  names 
are   now  living   freshly   on   the   tablets   of    immortal   hearts. 


105 

They  are,  we  may  not  doubt,  surrounded  by  those  to  whom 
they  ministered  the  word  and  sacraments  of  life  on  earth  ;  and 
think  you  that  in  their  hearts  the  names  and  services  of  their 
faithful  pastors  can  ever  be  forgotten  ? 

But  peace  to  their  ashes  !  Whatever  philosophy  may  say,  it 
is  the  dictate  of  religion,  as  well  as  of  natural  taste  and  sentiment, 
to  care  for  the  burial  places  of  those  that  sleep  in  Jesus.  We 
believe  not  only  in  the  immortality  of  the  soul,  but  also  in  the 
resurrection  of  the  body  ;  does  not  the  Redeemer  himself  watch 
over  the  sleeping  dust  of  his  disciples,  and  does  the  believer 
want  any  greater  incentive,  to  hallow  the  last  resting  place  of 
his  guide  or  companion  in  faith  ? 

And  here  let  me  say  a  word  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  town 
respecting  the  reverence  that  is  due  their  '  burying-hill,' — piled 
(if  I  may  be  allowed  the  expression)  with  sacred  dust.  It  is 
indescribably  dear  to  many  of  you,  because  those  are  sleeping 
there  whom  you  once  loved,  and  still  love ;  and  those  also 
are  there,  whom  it  was  a  blessing  to  know,  and  whom  it  is  a 
blessing  to  succeed.  Cherish  the  place  then,  and  guard  it  with 
a  rampart  of  filial  hearts  !  It  is  a  pleasing  indication  of  modern 
taste  and  refinement,  that  some  of  the  most  beautiful  spots  in 
nature,  like  Mount  Auburn,  have  been  consecrated  to  the  burial 
of  the  dead.  Surely  it  is  a  becoming  act  of  piety  to  protect  from 
injury,  and  render  attractive,  the  spots  which  the  venerable  dead 
have  themselves  consecrated  by  making  them  their  last  resting 
places.  The  fathers  of  the  town  acted  upon  this  principle,  and 
offered  the  best  they  had,  when  they  devoted  the  '  burying- 
hill  '  to  their  dead ;  it  was  the  most  beautiful  and  appropriate  site 
on  the  peninsula,  commanding  a  varied  and  extensive  prospect, 
eminently  calculated  to  soothe  and  elevate  the  mind  Avhen  seen 
in  the  soft  twilight  of  a  Sabbath  evening,  at  which  time  the 
Puritans  and  their  children  were  wont  to  pay  a  solemn  yet 
cheerful  visit  to  the  graves  of  their  departed  kindred.  That 
ground  is  still  capable  of  being  beautified  and  rendered  at- 
tractive, and  thus  made  to  serve  a  valuable  moral  purpose,  by 
impressing  upon  the  hearts  of  the  present  generation  a  salutary 
reverence  for  the  Pilgrim  Fathers. 
14 


LECTURE     VI. 


Genesis    xvii.    7,    8. 

And  I  WILL  ESTABLISH  MY  COVENANT  BETWEEN  ME  AND  THEE,  AND  THY  SEED  AFTER 
THEE  IN  THEIR  GENERATIONS,  FOR  AN  EVERLASTING  COVENANT,  TO  BE  A  GoD  UNTO 
THEE  AND  TO  THY  SEED  AFTER  THEE.  AnD  1  WILL  GIVE  UNTO  THEE  AND  TO  THY 
SEED    AFTER   THEE,  THE    LAND     WHEREIN  THOU    ART    A   STRANGER,   ALL   THE  LAND 

OF  Canaan,  for  an  everlasting  possession}  and  1  will  be  their  God. 

Among  all  the  ministers  of  this  church,  no  man  enjoyed  a 
higher  reputation  for  talents  and  learning  with  his  cotemporaries 
than  Mr.  Morton.  The  circumstances  of  his  arrival  in  this 
country,  the  welcome  he  received,  together  with  his  previous 
reputation,  afford  evidence  of  this  ;  but  ampler  proof  may  be 
derived  from  the  writings  he  has  left  us,  both  published  and 
unpublished.  It  was  Mr.  Morton's  practice  to  prepare  essays 
and  tracts  on  various  literary  and  scientific  subjects,  and  place 
them  in  the  hands  of  his  students  to  be  copied  by  them.  One 
of  these  has  been  published  by  Mr.  Calamy.  It  was  a  paper 
drawn  up  under  the  reign  of  king  Charles  II.,  and  bears  the  title 
of  "  Advice  to  Candidates  for  the  Ministry  under  the  present 
discouraging  circumstances."  I  shall  take  the  liberty  of  pre- 
senting a  few  extracts  from  this  essay,  not  only  for  their  intrinsic 
value,  but  for  the  light  they  will  cast  upon  the  author's  views 
of  the  ministerial  office,  and  his  own  character  as  a  minister. 

"  Presuming  you  will  accept  of  advice  from  one  you  know 
loves  and  wishes  you  well,  and  whose  comforts  are  much 
bound  up  in  your  well-doing — having  observed  some  desid- 
eranda  in  divers  who  are  entering  into  the  sacred  work — I 
thought  it  my  duty  to  deal  plainly  and  faithfully  with  you  in  a 
few  suitable  and  seasonable  admonitions  to  you. 

"  This  premised,  my  counsel  in  short  is — 


107 

"1.  That  in  all  study  and  preaching,  you  chiefly  mind  Jesus 
Christ.  Remember  you  design  the  ministry  of  the  gospel ; 
and  the  gospel  is  the  doctrine  of  the  Saviour,  and  the  tender 
of  salvation  by  the  Mediator.  Think  much  of  that  passage  of 
Luther :  '  Omnes  mese  meditationes  theologicas  in  Christo 
liuunt  refluuntque.'  (All  my  reflections  upon  theology  lead  me 
and  bring  me  back  to  Christ. )  Is  it  a  sin  you  think  of  or  men- 
tion ?  remember  it  still  as  a  piercer,  a  persecutor,  a  crucifier  of 
Christ.  So  look  on  it  and  Him  together,  as  may  cause  you  to 
mourn  over  both.  Is  it  a  duty  ?  remember  always  whence 
strength  comes  to  perform  it :  Lex  jubet ;  Evangelium  juvat. 
(Law  commands  ;  Gospel  assists.)  For  without  Him  you  can 
do  nothing  ;  no,  not  so  much  as  think  a  good  thought.  Is  it  a 
threat  ?  let  it  be  a  spurr  ;  or  a  promise  ?  let  it  be  a  lure  ;  both 
inciting  in  their  proper  way  to  come  unto  Christ ;  the  former  as 
the  rod  of  the  law,  a  schoolmaster ;  the  latter  as  a  branch  of 
the  covenant  of  grace,  which  in  Christ  alone  is  yea  and  amen. 
Do  you  offer  prayer  or  praise  unto  God  ?  not  only  remember  the 
formal  and  customary  close,  (through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,) 
but  in  every  branch,  let  the  hand  of  faith,  with  holy  and  hum- 
ble affection,  tender  and  deliver  it  into  the  Mediator's  hand,  that 
it  may  be  acceptable  in  the  beloved.  Thus  you  shall  avoid  the 
unsavory  way  of  moral  philosophy  lecturers,  instead  of  gospel 
preaching,  more  fit  for  the  rostra  or  theatre  of  heathens,  than 
the  pulpit  or  assembly  of  Christians ;  and  better  comply  with 
the  exemplary  resolution  of  the  apostle,  who  determined  to 
'know  nothing  but  Jesus  Christ,  and  him  crucified.' 

''  2.  That  you  often  call  to  mind  the  end  of  preaching,  which 
is  to  teach  what  men  should,  not  to  show  what  you  can  do. 
Direct  your  speech,  not  as  if  you  intended  to  beat  the  air  over 
men's  heads,  but  as  designing  to  teach  and  touch  the  tenderest 
part  of  their  hearts.  What  we  speak  to  God,  must  be  aimed  at 
his  heart ;  and  what  from  him  to  man,  should  be  aimed  at 
theirs.  The  church  is  Christ's  school.  Every  member  is  a 
disciple  or  scholar.  A  minister  is  a  teacher  sent  from  God.  He 
should,  therefore,  personate  at  least  a  tutor,  if  not  a  parent. 
Now  a  father  or  tutor  does  not  make  orations  or  speeches  to  his 
children  or  scholars,  but  in  a  familiar  way  (humane  more)  he 
inculcates  his  instructions  so  as  he  judges  will  make  the  best 
impression. 


108 

"  As  for  probationei-ship,  and  the  opinions  of  men  concerning 
you,  you  neither  need  nor  ought  to  be  farther  concerned  than 
with  relation  to  the  fruit  of  your  labors,  and  the  end  of  preach- 
ing. Think  often  that  your  preparations  are  designed  to  serve 
and  please  the  great  God.  What  is  it  then,  whether  they  are 
pleasing  or  no,  to  this  learned,  that  curious,  or  the  other  great 
man  !  In  a  word,  let  the  words  of  vain  critics  pass  unregarded. 
Only  labor  sincerely  to  approve  yourselves  to  God,  and  you  will 
be  also  approved  in  good  men's  consciences. 

'^  3.  In  connection  with  and  reference  to  the  last  advice,  I 
counsel  you  to  use  notes,  not  proudly  and  foolishly,  but  humbly 
and  wisely. 

"  The  proud  use  of  notes  is,  when  men  of  an  affected  curiosity, 
to  scratch  itching  ears,  are  nice  to  note  down  all  to  a  word  or 
tittle,  lest  (forsooth)  the  starched  oration  should  be  ruffled  by  a 
rough  expression.  When  these  exact  notes  are  prepared,  then 
they  are  either  conned  by  heart,  and  recited  like  a  school-boy's 
lesson,  or  read  verbatim  as  a  child  does  his  horn-book. 

''  On  the  other  hand,  an  humble,  prudent  use  of  notes  is,  when 
men  out  of  a  sense  of  their  infirmity,  have  them  ready  as  an 
help,  not  presuming  on  their  extempore  faculty,  nor  despising 
such  a  method,  or  succinctness  of  discourse,  as  may  be  best 
understood  and  retained  by  the  auditors.  When  things  pru- 
dently (not  words  curiously)  are  so  disposed  of,  as  that  when  a 
man  is  to  deliver  a  certain  sentence  or  paragraph  of  truth,  he 
may  have  the  whole  freedom  of  his  mind  to  express  it  with  its 
proper  affection,  without  fear  of  losing  the  next  consequent,  or 
an  impertinent  filling  up  some  interstitial  time  with  an  ill- 
favored  heap  of  superfluous  words,  till  the  mind  can  recover 
itself  to  think  what  should  be  next.  Those  that  will  never 
use  notes  often  need  them.  Such  are  (in  my  thoughts)  like  a 
man  that  holds  a  bundle  of  arrows  in  his  bow-hand  ;  the  stead- 
iness and  strength  of  whose  draught  is  thereby  hindered ; 
whereas,  the  others  are  as  one  that  disposeth  of  them  in  order 
in  his  quiver,  and  out  of  his  way,  who,  when  he  hath  with  full 
strength  drawn  one  shaft  to  the  very  head,  and  sent  it  to  the 
heart,  can  handsomely  come  at  another,  and  make  use  of  it 
without  interruption.  I  said  before,  things  and  not  words.  Not 
that  I  advise  an  utter  neglect  of  proper  and  significant  expres- 
sions ;   but  the  greatest  care  should  be  had  of  the  matter  and 


109 

things.  And  if  this  be  done,  one  that  is  a  scholar,  and  who 
ordinarily  accustoms  himself  to  speak  handsomely  and  proper, 
needs  not  want  sufficient  words  well  to  express  his  mind.  '  Re 
bene  disposita,  verba  ac  in  vita  sequuntur.'  (When  your 
thoughts  are  well  arranged,  appropriate  words  will  naturally 
follow.)" 

But  I  may  not  proceed  further  with  these  extracts.  The 
whole  letter  or  essay  is  permanently  valuable,  and  might  be 
transcribed  now  with  great  advantage  by  candidates  for  the 
ministry.  It  may  serve  also  to  give  us  an  accurate  and  lively 
idea  of  Mr.  Morton's  own  character  as  a  preacher.  He  had 
confessedly  very  extensive  stores  of  learning  at  command,  and 
his  long  experience  as  a  teacher,  gave  him  the  power  of  com- 
municating instruction  with  great  readiness,  and  adapting  his 
method  to  the  wants  of  all  classes.  He  was  a  man  of  tact  and 
good  sense,  and  every  way  fitted  to  exercise  a  controlling 
influence  over  his  hearers.  This  pulpit  was  probably  never 
occupied  by  a  man  so  eminent  for  his  qualifications  as  a 
preacher.  His  rich  fund  of  information,  together  with  his 
fondness  for  instruction,  made  him  very  attractive  to  young 
men.  He  was  surrounded  by  large  numbers  of  them  for  twenty 
years  in  London  ;  and  when  he  came  to  this  country  he  was 
follow-ed  by  some  of  his  pupils,  and  daring  the  remainder  of  his 
life  here  he  was  attended  by  more  or  less. 

Mr.  Morton  published  a  number  of  small  treatises  during  his 
life ;  ^  but  he  was  always  brief  and  compendious,  being  a 
declared  enemy  of  large  volumes.  The  Greek  maxim,  "  Mi^ja 
SiQliov  jiiya  xaKor,"  A  great  book,  a  great  evil — was  frequently 
in  his  mouth. 

Mr.  Morton  discharged  the  duties  of  a  pastor  for  about  ten 
years ;  during  this  period  the  ancient  spirit  of  discipline  seems 
to  have  been  maintained — the  baptized  children  being  regarded 
as  strictly  under  the  watch  and  care  of  the  church.  A  person, 
who  was  a  member  of  the  church  in  Dorchester  by  baptism, 
having  committed  an  offence  in  this  place,  by  direction  of  that 
church  made  an  acknowledgment  to  the  satisfaction  of  this 
church,  and  was  restored. 

On  the  9th  of  November,  1694,  the  church  being  entirely 

>  Note  38. 


110 

without  deacons,  a  meeting  was  held,  and  "  there  were  nomina- 
ted Mr.  Joseph  Kettle,  Mr.  John  Call,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Kettle," 
of  whom  the  two  first-mentioned  were  in  the  following  April 
ordained  in  accordance  with  ancient  usage. 

At  the  same  time,  the  church  also  voted,  "  that  they  thought 
it  needful  to  call  one  to  be  an  assistant  in  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry, in  order  to  office  in  this  church ;  "  and  for  that  purpose  a 
church  meeting  was  appointed  on  the  23d  of  the  month,  at  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  they  "proceeded  and  nominated 
and  chose  Mr.  Ebenezer  Pemberton." 

This  gentleman  was  born  in  Boston,  in  1672,  and  graduated 
at  Harvard  College,  1691.  At  the  time  of  receiving  the  call  of 
this  church,  he  was  very  young,  and  had  just  completed  his 
preparatory  studies.  He  declined  the  call  of  the  church,  per- 
haps for  the  reason  mentioned,  and  preferred  a  longer  residence 
at  the  college,  to  which  he  returned  in  the  capacity  of  a  tutor. 
The  people,  however,  remembered  him  with  interest,  and  made 
a  second  attempt  to  secure  his  services,  as  we  learn  from  the 
following  memorandum  written  by  Mr.  Morton.  "  Since  my 
last  great  sickness  for  about  a  year,  the  deacons  provided  tran- 
sient help  to  preach  one  part  of  the  day.  My  weakness  being 
more  than  ordinary  manifest  this  last  winter,  sometime  in 
January,  divers,  both  of  the  church  and  town,  came  together 
unto  me,  and  asked  if  I  Avere  willing  to  have  a  settled  helper  ? 
I  answered  in  the  affirmative.  Then  they  asked  me  what 
method  in  order  thereunto  I  would  advise  them,  in  which  they 
should  proceed?  I  answered,  first  ask  counsel  of  God,  and 
then  of  wise  men." 

"Accordingly,"  he  writes,  "  on  this  day,  February  11,  1697, 
we  had  a  public  fast ;  Mr.  Willard  and  myself  preaching,  and 
other  ministers  assisting  in  prayer.  After  this,  a  committee, 
constituted  both  of  the  church  and  inhabitants,  were  chosen  to 
act  herein,  who  made  this  return  to  the  whole  congregation." 
Then  follows  the  report,  which  states  that  the  major  part  of  the 
ministers  of  Boston  advised  to  the  choice  of  Mr.  Pemberton, 
and  concludes  with  a  recommendation,  "  that  the  inhabitants 
do  convene  on  the  next  Friday  come  fortnight,  at  nine  of  the 
clock  in  the  forenoon,  being  the  12th  day  of  March  next,  in 
order  to  a  free  choice  in  that  affair." 

Before  this  meeting  took  place,  however,  the  church  met  at 


Ill 

Mr.  Morton's  house,  February  22d,  and  passed  the  following 
vote:  "That,  whereas,  they  did  formerly  in  the  year  1694, 
November  23,  vote,  and  nominated  Mr.  Ebenezer  Pemberton  to 
be  an  assistant  to  Mr.  Charles  Morton,  as  a  settled  help  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry  ;  and  we  are  so  well  satisfied  in  what 
they  have  done  herein,  as  to  come  to  a  free  and  general  vote 
with  the  inhabitants,  at  the  time  appointed  by  the  committee, 
in  order  to  a  settled  help  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Charles  Morton  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry  among  us." 

At  the  general  town  meeting  (March  12)  Mr.  Simon  Brad- 
street  was  chosen  assistant  pastor,  and  a  call  extended  to  him 
accordingly.  Whether  the  church  contemplated  such  a  result 
or  not,  we  do  not  know.  At  their  previous  meeting  they  re- 
newed their  call  to  Mr.  Pemberton,  and  probably  expected  the 
ratification  of  it  by  the  town.  But  I  can  discover  no  evidence 
of  a  disagreement  between  the  church  and  the  town,  but  on  the 
contrary,  an  unusual  degree  of  unanimity.  When  Mr.  Bradstreet 
was  elected,  it  seems  to  have  taken  place  by  general  consent, 
probably  because  it  was  ascertained  that  Mr.  Pemberton  would 
not  accept.  However  this  may  be,  it  certainly  does  not  appear 
that  the  church  designed  to  relinquish  their  undoubted  right  to 
proceed  first  in  the  choice  of  a  minister.  They  did  make  the  first 
move,  and  at  their  meeting  on  the  22d  of  February,  although 
for  some  reason  they  did  not  elect  Mr.  Bradstreet,  they  yet 
expressed  themselves  so  well  "  satisfied  as  to  come  to  a  free  and 
general  vote  with  the  inhabitants,"  in  the  choice  of  a  minister. 
This  declaration  was  read  to  the  inhabitants  at  the  town  meet- 
ing on  the  12th  of  March,  and  it  would  seem  that  the  church 
supposed  they  had  virtually,  if  not  formally,  made  choice  of 
Mr.  Bradstreet  before  he  was  chosen  by  the  town. 

But  the  method  of  procedure  was  deemed  irregular  and  of 
dangerous  tendency  by  some  in  the  vicinity.  Under  date  of 
the  9th  of  May,  1697,  we  find  the  following  record,  the  last 
entry  made  by  the  trembling  hand  of  the  venerable  Morton. 
"  The  church  stopped — they  voted  that  the  committee  should 
bring  in  their  answer  to  the  three  churches'  letters  on  the  next 
Lord's  day.  And  at  the  same  time.  May  9,  voted  and  declared 
that  they  as  a  church  of  Christ,  did  vote  Mr.  Simon  Bradstreet 
to  be  a  constant  helper  to  me  (their  aged  pastor)  in  the  work  of 
the  ministry." 


112 

This  refers  to  a  letter  of  admonition  sent  by  the  North  church 
in  Boston  to  this  church,  for  "  betraying  the  hberties  of  the 
churches  in  their  late  putting  into  the  hands  of  the  whole 
inhabitants  the  choice  of  a  minister."  The  reply  of  this  church 
to  the  charge  has  not  been  preserved,  and  we  cannot  therefore 
know  with  certainty  the  merits  of  the  controversy.  But  from 
the  facts  with  which  we  are  acquainted,  it  would  seem  that  the 
accusation  arose  from  a  misunderstanding,  or  the  fault  from 
inadvertence  and  that  laxness  which  results  from  entire  unan- 
imity. 

The  call  of  the  church  and  town,  however,  as  thus  made  out 
to  Mr.  Bradstreet,  was  for  some  reason  declined,  and  he  was  not 
settled  till  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Morton.  ^ 

Mr.  Morton  lived  about  a  year  after  the  transaction  narrated 
above,  probably  in  a  very  feeble  state  of  health.  Under  the 
date  of  June  1,  1697,  Judge  Sewall  mentions  his  attending 
the  funeral  of  Mr.  Thomas  Graves,  on  which  occasion  he 
says  :  "  Mr.  Morton  is  very  short  bfeath'd — sat  upon  a  tomb 
in  the  burying-place,  and  said  for  ought  he  knew  he  should  be 
next."  And  in  the  month  of  February  following,  he  speaks 
repeatedly  of  riding  over  the  ice  to  Charlestown  to  visit  Mr. 
Morton.  On  the  8th  of  April  he  visited  him ;  and,  as  it  is  the 
last  interview  with  the  dying  pastor  of  which  we  have  any 
account,  I  will  quote  it. 

''  I  was  told  he  was  asleep ;  but  went  in,  and  when  I  drew 
nigh  his  bedside,  he  earnestly  stretched  out  his  flaming  hand  to 
me,  and  strove  to  speak,  but  could  not.  I  think  the  first  I 
heard  him  say  was,  'I  sir.'  I  asked  him  how  he  did  in  such 
long  illness.  He  at  first  said,  '  That  which  can't  be  cured,  must 
be  endured.'  But  seemed  presently  after  to  correct  himself,  and 
say,  '  I  desire  patiently  to  submit  to  the  hand  of  God.'  A  while 
after,  I  said,  you  cannot  speak  to  me,  but  you  can  speak  to  God, 
which  is  a  thousand  times  better.  I  pray  that  God  would  help 
you  to  speak  to  him,  and  that  he  would  graciously  hear  you 
when  you  do  speak.  He  seemed  to  lie  still  in  a  listening  pos- 
ture, and  made  a  little  pause  and  said,  <  Excellent  things !  if  I 
could  receive  them  and  live  up  to  them ! '  Before  this,  he  said 
something  about  his  man  Tiler,  that  he  heard  he  was  become  a 

>  Note  Sa. 


113 

new  man.  When  I  took  leave,  he  said,  'I  wish  you  well,  and 
all  your  family.'  I  told  him  I  doubted  not  but  that  I  should 
fare  the  better  for  his  blessing." 

The  death  of  Mr.  Morton  took  place  on  the  11th  of  April, 
1698.  On  that  day.  Judge  Sewall  says,  "Mr.  Willard  and  I, 
having  appointed  it  before,  went  to  see  Mr.  Morton.  He  was 
in  his  agonies,  but  Mr.  Willard  prayed  with  him,  and  he  seemed 
to  be  sensible  by  the  motion  of  his  eye.  He  died  between  two 
and  three  of  the  clock."  The  funeral  took  place  on  the  14th, 
and  was  attended  by  the  principal  members  of  the  court,  the 
oflftcers  of  the  college,  (of  which  he  was  vice-president,)  and 
the  students,  who  preceded  the  hearse  and  led  the  procession. 
The  will  of  Mr.  Morton  has  been  preserved  in  the  probate 
ofBice,  bearing  date  November,  1697.  After  some  personal 
bequests,  he  "appoints  his  executor  to  dispose  of  at  his  dis- 
cretion to  such  persons  as  to  him  shall  seem  meet,  all  his 
philosophical  writings,  sermon  notes,  pamphlets,  mathematical 
instruments,  and  other  rarities."  He  bequeathed  fifty  pounds 
to  the  president  and  fellows  of  Harvard  College,  for  the  use  of 
the  college,  and  left  his  houses  and  lands  in  this  town,  and 
in  Cornwall,  England,  and  the  rest  of  his  estate,  to  his  two 
nephews,  Charles  and  John  Morton,  and  his  niece,  Mary  Mor- 
ton, to  be  equally  divided  among  them. 

An  elegant  and  complimentary  Latin  epitaph  upon  Mr.  Morton, 
was  composed  by  his  successor,  the  Rev.  Simon  Bradstrect.^ 

In  the  month  of  May,  the  worshipful  James  Russell  was 
appointed  to  declare  to  the  town,  the  election  of  Mr.  Bradstreet 
as  their  pastor,  and  to  request  their  concurrence.  This  having 
been  accorded,  Mr.  Bradstreet  signified  his  acceptance,  and  was 
ordained  October  26,  1698. 

Mr.  Bradstreet  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Simon  Bradstreet,  the 
first  minister  of  New  London,  Connecticut,  in  which  place  he 
was  born,  and  grandson  of  Simon  Bradstreet,  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  of  the  Pilgrim  fathers,  and  for  many  years  a 
popular  governor  of  the  colony.  He  graduated  at  Harvard 
College,  in  1693,  and  his  ministry  was  a  long  one,  of  more 
than  forty  years'  duration.  He  was  a  man  of  great  learning, 
strong  mind,  and  lively  imagination ;  but  in  the  latter  part  of 


«  Note  40. 

15 


114 

his  life  became  so  hypocondriacal,  that  he  was  afraid  to  preach 
in  the  pulpit,  from  an  impression  that  he  should  die  there. 
In  consequence  of  this,  he  delivered  his  sermons  in  the  dea- 
cons' seat ;  they  were  generally  extempore,  and  pervaded  with 
the  melancholy  which  attached  so  morbidly  to  his  own  mind. 
His  style  of  preaching  was  rather  practical  than  doctrinal — for 
the  most  part  upon  the  state  of  man  and  the  vanity  of  the 
world ;  and  this,  together  with  his  fondness  for  Tillotson's 
sermons,  exposed  him  to  the  charge  of  Arminianism.  He  sel- 
dom if  ever  appeared  with  a  coat,  but  always  wore  a  plaid 
gown,  and  was  commonly  seen  with  a  pipe  in  his  mouth.  But 
it  was  [principally  for  his  classical  attainments  that  Mr.  Brad- 
street  was  distinguished ;  and  in  illustration  of  this,  an  anec- 
dote is  told  of  him,  that  when  introduced  to  Governor  Burnet, 
who  was  himself  a  fine  scholar,  it  Avas  said  of  him  by  Lieu- 
tenant Governor  Taylor,  who  introduced  him,  "  Here  is  a  man 
who  can^whistle  Greek."  ^ 

For  about  fifteen  years,  Mr.  Bradstreet  performed  the  duties  of 
his  office  alone.  In  the  month  of  June,  1712,  a  committee  was 
appointed  by  the  town  to  confer  with  him  respecting  the  selec- 
tion of  a  colleague.  The  church  acceded  to  the  desire  of  the 
town,  and  both  concurred  in  the  appointment  of  a  day  of  fast- 
ing and  prayer  for  the  blessing  of  God  "  in  such  a  weighty  and 
important  undertaking."  After  this,  the  church  nominated 
Rev.  Messrs.  Joseph  Stevens,  John  Webb,  and  John  Tufts  ,• 
and  from  these  three  the  town  proceeded  to  ballot,  and  chose 
Mr.  Stevens.  Having  accepted  the  invitation,  he  was  ordained 
October  13,  1713.  The  sacred  charge  was  given  him  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Increase  Mather,  and  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  by 
his  son  Dr.  Cotton  Mather.  Mr.  Stevens  preached  his  own 
ordination  sermon,  taking  for  his  text  Daniel  xii.  3:  <'  And  they 
that  be  wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament  j 
and  they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness,  as  the  stars  for  ever 
and  ever." 

Judge  Sewall,  who  was  present,  says  that  "Dr.  Cotton 
Mather  made  an  august  speech,  shewing  that  the  Congrega- 


>  Judge  Russell  of  this  place,  who  died  1793,  at  the  age  of  83,  was  present,  a  young  lad, 
and  wiluessed  the  introduction.     1  3iass.  H.  S.  Coll.  viii.  75. 


115 

tional  churches  declared  early  against  Independency,  that  all 
the  reformation  of  the  continent  of  Europe  ordained  as  New- 
England  did ;  shewed  that  their  ordination  had  no  other 
foundation.  Declared  what  was  expected  of  the  ordained  per- 
son, what  of  the  church,  and  then  gave  the  right  hand  of 
fellowship.  ^  The  three  last  staves  of  the  thirty-second  Psalm 
sung.     Captain  Phips  set  the  tune,  and  read  it." 

An  ordination  occasion  was  formerly  one  of  general  public 
interest,  and  was  celebrated  with  considerable  expense.  Fifty 
pounds  were  raised  to  defray  the  charges  of  the  ordination  of 
Mr.  Stevens,  an  amount  equal  to  half  a  year's  salary. 

Mr.  Stevens  was  a  son  of  Deacon  John  Stevens,  of  the  First 
or  North  church  of  Andover,  where  he  was  born  20th  of  June, 
1682.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1703,  of  which  he 
became  a  tutor  and  fellow.  He  preached  his  first  sermon  at 
Marblehead,  September  16,  1705,  on  Matt.  xvi.  26,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three.  ''For  what  is  a  man  profited,  if  he  shall  gain 
the  whole  world  and  lose  his  own  soul  ?  or  what  shall  a  man 
give  in  exchange  for  his  soul  ? "  Mr.  Stevens,  like  the  elder 
Shepard,  was  cut  off  in  early  manhood,  and  by  the  same  dis- 
ease ;  but  he  has  left  behind  him  an  unspotted  and  enviable 
name.  He  was  distinguished  for  his  fervor  and  eloquence  as  a 
preacher  ;  and  the  various  excellencies  of  his  character  won 
the  affections  of  his  people  in  a  remarkable  degree. 

The  next  event  of  importance,  after  the  ordination  of  Mr. 
Stevens,  was  the  erection  of  a  new  meeting-house,  in  1716. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  Government  House,  or  "Great 
House,"  as  it  was  called,  was  purchased  by  the  town,  in  1633, 
and  was  the  first  edifice  occupied  for  public  worship.  In  two 
or  three  years,  however,  this  was  sold,  and  a  meeting-house 
built  further  up  town,  "between  the  town  and  the  neck;"  but 
this  arrangement  was  only  a  temporary  one.  In  1639,  the  house 
was  sold  for  one  hundred  pounds,  and  a  new  meeting-house 
built  on  the  south  side  of  the  town  hill.  This  house,  having 
been  frequently  repaired  and  enlarged,  remained  till  1716,  about 
seventy-five  years.  On  the  21st  of  June,  1715,  it  was  voted  by 
the  town,  unanimously,  to  build  a  new  meeting-house,  to  stand 


1  "Oct  13,  1713.  I  made  the  prayer  before  the  sermon,  and  I  gave  the  fellowship  of  the 
churches  in  a  large  speech,  wherein  1  enjoyed  the  signal  assistance  of  God." — Cotton 
Mather's  MS.  journal  in  tli£  libiartj  of  the  Antiq.  Soc.,  Worcester. 


116 

as  near  the  old  one  as  can  be,  with  such  additions  of  land  as 
shall  be  needful  for  it."  The  building  committee  were  then 
chosen,  and  consisted  of  the  following  persons:  "Col.  John 
Phillips,  Col.  Joseph  Lynde,  Capt.  Nathaniel  Carey,  Capt.  Sam- 
uel Phipps,  Capt.  Charles  Chambers,  Capt.  Jonathan  Dows, 
Capt.  Michael  Gill,  Doct.  Thomas  Greaves,  Capt.  Samuel  Froth- 
ingham,  Mr.  Daniel  Russell,  and  Mr.  Nathaniel  Frothingham." 

The  house  was  raised  June  20tli,  1716.  Judge  Sewall  tells 
us  in  his  MS,  journal,  that  he  went  over  to  Charlestown  on  the 
morning  of  this  day,  and  "  drove  a  pin  in  Charlestown  meeting- 
house, in  the  corner  post  next  Mr.  Bradstreet's,  and  sat  in  the 
nearest  shop  and  saw  them  raise  the  third  post  towards  the 
ferry  from  the  corner  post."  It  was  opened  for  the  public  wor- 
ship of  God,  for  the  first  time,  August  5,  1716.  The  first 
lecture  ^  in  the  new  meeting-house,  was  preached  on  the  21st  of 
September,  by  Mr.  Stevens,  from  Psalm  Ixxxiv.  4:  "Blessed 
are  they  that  dwell  in  thy  house."  "He  made,"  says  Judge 
Sewall,  "  a  very  good  discourse,  worthy  to  be  printed."  On 
the  20th  of  May,  1717,  the  committee  chosen  to  build  the 
meeting-house,  reported  that,  "by  the  blessing  of  God,"  they 
had  completed  the  work.  The  cost  was  X  1,899  35.  10c?. 
The  sum  received  from  the  contributors,  amounted  to  £1,925. 
This  meeting-house  was  in  the  square,  as  is  well  known,  and 
is  still  remembered  by  some  among  us.  It  stood  till  the  day  of 
the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  June  17,  1775,  and  then  "  our  holy, 
and  our  beautiful  house,  where  our  fathers  praised  thee,  O 
Lord,  was  burned  up  with  fire,  and  all  our  pleasant  things  were 
laid  waste." 

Mr.  Stevens's  life  was  a  short  one  ;  but  of  his  ministry  and 
personal  character,  there  remain  to  us  some  interesting  memo- 
rials of  which  I  shall  make  mention  in  the  next  Lecture. 

Of  Mr.  Bradstreet  I  have  been  able  to  obtain  little,  beyond 
the  few  particulars  already  given.  By  the  kindness,  how- 
ever, of  a  descendant  of  his,  I  have  been  put  in  possession 
of  a  manuscript  volume,  belonging  to  the  family,  and  handed 
down  to  the  late  Miss  Catharine  Bradstreet  of  this  town.  It 
-consists  of  the  compositions  of  Mrs.  Anne  Bradstreet,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Governor  Dudley,  and  wife  of  Governor  Bradstreet,  who 

1  Note  41. 


117 

may  not  invidiously  be  called  the  most  distinguished  female 
character  and  writer  of  the  first  generation.  Her  poems  were 
frequently  published,  and  were  held  in  high  repute  in  their 
day.  Cotton  Mather  has  preserved  the  following  high-wrought 
epigram  composed  upon  these  poems,  which  will  serve  to  show 
us  how  much  admired  she  was  as  an  authoress. 

"  Now  I  believe  tradition,  which  doth  call 
The  muses,  virtues,  graces,  females  all. 
Only  they  are  not  nine,  eleven,  or  three  ; 
Our  authoress  proves  them  but  an  unity. 
Mankind,  take  up  some  blushes  on  the  score; 
Monopolize  perfection  hence  no  more. 
In  your  own  arts  confess  yourselves  outdone  ; 
The  moon  hath  totally  eclipsed  the  sun : 
Not  with  her  sable  mantle  muffling  him. 
But  her  bright  silver  makes  his  gold  look  dim  : 
Just  as  his  beams  force  our  pale  lamps  to  wink. 
And  earthly  fires  within  their  ashes  shrink." 

This  manuscript  volume  of  hers,  in  her  own  hand-writing,  is 
dedicated  to  her  "Dear  Son  Simon  Bradstreet,"  the  father  of 
our  minister,  and  contains  seventy-seven  "Meditations,  Divine 
and  Moral,"  which  she  had  intended  to  continue  through  the 
volume,  as  we  are  told  in  a  note  written  by  her  son,  "  but  was 
prevented  by  death." 

I  wish  I  had  space  to  present  copious  extracts  from  these 
truly  wise  and  pious  meditations ;  they  evince  not  only  a 
thoughtful  experience  of  life,  but  also  a  tender  and  chastened 
spirit  of  piety.  Sure  I  am  that  no  mother,  who  loves  her 
children  with  a  Christian  as  well  as  natural  affection,  can  read 
these  expressions  of  maternal  love  without  having  her  sensi- 
bilities touched,  and  feeling  herself  quickened  in  duty.  I  will 
extract  the  first  seven  or  eight  meditations  in  the  order  in 
which  they  are  written. 

"  1.  There  is  no  object  that  we  see,  no  action  that  we  do,  no 
good  that  we  enjoy,  no  evil  that  we  feel  or  fear,  but  we  may 
make  some  spiritual  advantage  of  all  ;  and  he  that  makes  such 
improvement  is  wise  as  well  as  pious. 

"  2.  Many  can  speak  well,  but  few  can  do  well.  We  are 
better  scholars  in  the  theory  than  the  practique  part ;  but  he  is 
a  true  Christian  that  is  a  proficient  in  both. 


118 

"  3.  Youth  is  the  time  of  getting,  middle  age  of  improving, 
and  old  age  of  spending.  A  negligent  youth  is  usually  attended 
by  an  ignorant  middle  age,  and  both  by  an  empty  old  age.  He 
that  hath  nothing  to  feed  on  but  vanity  and  lies,  must  needs  lie 
down  in  the  bed  of  sorrow. 

"4.  A  ship  that  bears  much  sail,  and  little  or  no  ballast,  is 
easily  overset ;  and  that  man  whose  head  hath  great  abilities, 
and  his  heart  little  or  no  grace,  is  in  danger  of  foundering. 

"5.  It  is  reported  of  the  peacock,  that,  priding  himself  in  his 
gay  feathers,  he  ruffles  them  up ;  but,  spying  his  black  feet,  he 
soon  lets  fall  his  plumes.  So  he  that  glories  in  his  gifts  and 
adornings  should  look  upon  his  corruptions,  and  that  will  damp 
his  high  thoughts. 

"  6.  The  finest  bread  hath  the  least  bran,  the  purest  honey 
the  least  wax,  and  the  sincerest  Christian  the  least  self-love. 

"  7.  The  hireling  that  labors  all  the  day,  comforts  himself 
that  Avhen  night  comes  he  shall  both  take  his  rest  and  receive 
his  reward.  The  painful  Christian,  that  hath  wrought  hard  in 
God's  vineyard,  and  hath  borne  the  heat  and  drought  of  the 
day,  when  he  perceives  his  sun  apace  to  decline,  and  the  shad- 
ows of  his  evening  to  be  stretched  out,  lifts  up  his  head  with 
joy,  knowing  his  refreshing  is  at  hand. 

"  8.  Downy  beds  make  drowsy  persons,  but  hard  lodging 
keeps  the  eyes  open.  A  prosperous  state  makes  a  secure 
Christian,  but  adversity  makes  him  consider." 

These  meditations  are  not  selected,  but  the  first  eight  in 
order.     The  last,  the  seventy-seventh,  is  as  follows : 

"  77.  God  hath  by  his  providence  so  ordered  that  no  one 
country  hath  all  commodities  within  itself,  but  what  it  wants, 
another  shall  supply,  that  so  there  may  be  a  mutual  commerce 
through  the  world.  As  it  is  with  countries,  so  it  is  with  men ; 
there  was  never  yet  any  one  man  that  had  all  excellencies,  let 
his  parts  natural  and  acquired,  spiritual  and  moral,  be  never  so 
large,  yet  he  stands  in  need  of  something  which  another  man 
hath,  perhaps  meaner  than  himself,  which  shows  us  perfection 
is  not  below,  as  also  that  God  will  have  us  beholden  one  to 
another." 

The  volume  I  am  describing  contains  also,  in  the  hand- 
writing of  her  son,  another  production  of  Mrs.  Bradstreet's, 
entitled. 


119 

"  A  true  copy  of  a  book  left  by  my  honored  and  dear  mother 
to  her  children,  and  found  among  some  papers  after  her  death." 
The  manuscript  begins  thus  : 

"  TO    MY    DEAR    CHILDREN. 

"  This  book,  by  any  yet  unread, 
I  leave  for  you  when  I  am  dead ; 
That,  being  gone,  here  you  may  find 
What  was  your  loving  mother's  mind. 
Make  use  of  what  I  leave  in  love. 
And  God  shall  bless  you  from  above.  A.  B. 

"  My  dear  Children, — I  knowing  by  experience  that  the 
exhortations  of  parents  take  most  effect  when  the  speakers 
leave  to  speak,  and  those  especially  sink  deepest  which  are 
spoke  latest ;  and  being  ignorant  whether  on  my  death-bed  I 
shall  have  opportunity  to  speak  to  any  one  of  you,  much  less  to 
all ;  thought  it  the  best,  whilst  I  was  able,  to  compose  some  short 
matters  (for  what  else  to  call  them  I  know  not)  and  bequeath 
to  you,  that  when  I  am  no  more  with  you,  yet  I  may  be  daily 
in  your  remembrance  (although  that  is  the  least  in  my  aim,  in 
what  I  now  do)  but  that  you  may  gain  some  spiritual  advantage 
by  my  experience.  I  have  not  studied  in  this  you  read  to  show 
my  skill,  but  to  declare  the  truth  ;  not  to  set  forth  myself,  but 
the  glory  of  God.  If  I  had  minded  the  former,  it  had  been 
perhaps  better  pleasing  to  you ;  but  seeing  the  last  is  the  best, 
let  it  be  best  pleasing  to  you." 

She  then  proceeds  to  give  an  account  of  "  God's  dealing 
with  her  from  her  childhood  to  that  day  j  "  the  influences 
under  which  her  religious  character  was  trained  ;  the  afflictions 
through  which  she  had  been  carried  by  trust  in  God.  There 
are  interwoven  with  this  personal  narrative,  quite  a  number  of 
original  hymns  and  poems,  which  are  imbued  with  the  same 
deeply  religious  spirit  as  her  prose  compositions. 

I  cannot  look  upon  this  relic  of  the  piety  and  parental  faith- 
fulness of  a  by-gone  age,  without  peculiar  interest  and  emotion. 
The  solicitude  which  this  Puritan  mother  exhibits  for  the  eter- 
nal welfare  of  her  children  in  the  lines  she  penned  and  left  for 
them  to  read  "  when  she  was  dead,"  appeals  to  the  tenderest 
sensibilities  of  the  heart.     Although  her  poetry  will  not  com- 


120 

pare  with  that  of  many  female  writers  of  the  present  day ;  yet 
the  mother  and  the  Christian  spoke  in  every  Une  she  wrote — 
a  meed  of  praise  to  which  but  few  of  the  daughters  of  song 
can  lay  claim.  That  woman  deserves  more  of  posterity,  and 
has  a  better  title  to  immortality,  who,  like  Mrs.  Bradstreet, 
by  her  wisdom  and  piety  has  bequeathed  a  sanctifying  influ- 
ence to  generation  after  generation  of  her  descendants,  than 
she,  who,  Sappho-like,  has  caught  the  inspiration  of  genius, 
and  poured  forth  the  sweetest  strains  of  poesy. 

When  Mrs.  Bradstreet  came  to  this  country,  although  it  was 
from  the  bosom  of  cultivated  society  to  a  wilderness,  she  did  it 
without  repining  ;  for  she  was  sustained  by  a  lofty  faith,  and 
a  Christian  mother's  heart,  desiring  for  her  children  a  crown 
of  life,  rather  than  earthly  distinctions.  But  her  maternal  faith- 
fulness was  no  more  marked  than  the  blessing  with  which 
God  followed  her  exertions,  and  sealed  his  fidelity  to  that 
covenant  in  which  he  engages  to  be  the  God  of  the  believer 
and  of  his  children  after  him.  Her  son,  who  bore  her  hus- 
band's name,  and  to  whom  she  dedicated  her  "  Meditations," 
spent  his  days  in  the  ministry  at  New  London ;  and  his  son 
was  the  pastor  of  this  church  for  forty  years.  The  fourth 
who  bore  the  name  of  Simon  Bradstreet,  (the  son  of  the  last 
named,)  was  a  baptized  child  of  this  church,  and  spent  his  life 
in  the  ministry  at  Marblehead.  The  reverence  he  wa^  taught 
to  feel  for  his  pious  ancestor  is  testified  by  this  book,  for  he 
translated  her  letter  of  dedication  to  his  grandfather  into  Latin, 
and  also  began  the  translation  of  the  meditations. 

Anna  Bradstreet,  her  children,  and  children's  children,  to 
the  third  and  fourth  generations,  now  sleep  in  death ;  but  her 
influence  lives, — how  widely  God  only  knows,  how  happily 
eternity  only  will  reveal.  Christian  mothers !  your  influence 
must  also  live  to  mould  the  character  and  destiny  of  your  pos- 
terity. May  God  give  you  grace  that  when  you  and  your 
children  appear  in  his  presence,  it  may  be  to  rejoice  together 
in  the  fruits  of  parental  faithfulness ! 


LECTURE     VII. 


Psalm  cxxvi.    3  —  6. 
The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  us,  whereof  we  are  glad.     Turn 

AGAIN  OUR  captivity,  O  LoRD,  AS  THE  STREAMS  IN  THE  SOUTH.  ThEY  THAT  SOW 
IN  TEARS  SHALL  REAP  IN  JOY.  He  THAT  GOETH  FORTH  AND  WEEPETH,  BEARING 
PRECIOUS  SEED,  SHALL  DOUBTLESS  COME  AGAIN  WITH  REJOICING,  BRINGING  HIS 
SHEAVES    WITH   HIM. 

We  resume  our  narrative  to  mention  the  death  of  Mr.  Stevens, 
and  to  add  some  particulars  respecting  his  character.  I  have 
ah'eady  said  that  his  ministry  was  a  short  one,  extending  through 
a  period  of  only  eight  years  ;  he  was  suddenly  cut  down  in  the 
fortieth  year  of  his  age,  and  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness,  by 
the  small-pox,  a  distemper  which  had  now  for  the  second  time 
spread  death  through  the  town,  and  for  the  second  time  stricken 
down  the  shepherd  of  this  flock. 

We  can,  at  this  distance  of  time,  form  but  a  faint  conception 
of  the  distress  and  agitation  of  mind,  which  the  ravages  of  this 
disease  occasioned.  The  rich  and  the  poor  were  attacked 
indiscriminately ;  almost  every  house  was  filled  with  mourning, 
and  some  families  were  nearly  exterminated.  The  register  of 
deaths  contains  the  names  of  one  hundred  and  seventeen  who 
died  in  this  place  of  the  small  pox  in  the  space  of  about  six 
months ;  during  the  same  period,  about  eight  hundred  died  in 
the  town  of  Boston.  But  no  family  appears  to  have  suffered 
more  severely  than  that  of  our  pastor,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stevens  ; 
taking  the  disorder,  probably,  as  his  predecessor,  Mr.  Shepard 
had  done,  by  visiting  his  dying  parishioners,  he  deceased  on  the 
16th  of  November,  1721,  and  on  the  same  day  his  only  daugh- 
ter, his  wife's  sister,  and  her  servant.  His  son  Joseph  fell  a  vic- 
tim to  the  distemper  ten  days  after,  and  his  widow  on  the  8th  of 
16 


122 

the  following  month.  So  that  of  a  family  which,  on  the  IGth  of 
November,  numbered  a  father,  mother,  daughter,  and  two  sons, 
on  the  8th  of  the  following  month  only  one  remained,  an  infant 
son  of  seven  months.  This  member  of  the  family,  however, 
was  spared,  and  having  completed  his  education,  entered  the 
ministry,  and  was  settled  at  Kittery,  in  Maine,  where  he  distin- 
guished himself  as  a  preacher,  and  became  extensively  known 
as  the  Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin  Stevens.  His  daughter  married  the 
late  Dr.  Buckminster  of  Portsmouth,  and  became  the  mother  of 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Stevens  Buckminster,  late  pastor  of  Brattle- 
street  church,  Boston. 

The  sudden  and  afflictive  circumstances  attending  the  death 
of  Mr.  Stevens,  aj^pear  to  have  produced  a  deep  sensation.  He 
was  at  this  time  preaching  a  series  of  discourses  on  Hebrews 
xi.  16:  "But  now  they  desire  a  better  country,  that  is,  an 
heavenly."  The  subject  of  his  first  discourse  was,  "  That 
there  is  another  world  after  this,  even  an  heavenly."  On  the 
5th  of  November,  he  preached  the  second  of  this  series,  which 
was  the  last  he  ever  delivered,  in  which,  with  great  elevation 
of  thought  and  feeling,  he  endeavored  to  show  "that  the 
heavenly  world  is  a  better  world  than  this."  In  the  two  next 
discourses,  it  was  his  purpose  to  show  that  we  should  chiefly 
desire  this  better  country,  and  that  all  true  believers  do  so ;  but 
before  the  middle  of  the  week,  he  was  seized  with  the  pesti- 
lence, and  died  on  Thursday  of  the  week  following,  but  not 
alone,  for  on  Saturday  evening  his  only  daughter,  and  his 
sister,  were  borne  with  him  and  laid  in  the  same  tomb.  A 
most  affecting  illustration  of  the  instability  of  all  human  plans ! 
Before  he  had  finished  a  short  course  of  four  sermons  on  the 
heavenly  country,  he  was  called  to  enter  it,  and  experience  the 
joys  he  was  designing  to  portray  for  the  benefit  of  his  people. 
And  such  was  the  interest  with  which  these  discourses  were 
listened  to,  and  so  cherished  his  memory,  that,  at  the  request  of 
many  of  the  flock,  they  were  published,  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Colman,  minister  of  the  Brattle-street 
church,  Boston,  who  prefaced  them  with  some  account  of  their 
author. 

From  this  source,  we  learn  that  Mr.  Stevens  was  possessed 
of  great  personal  beauty,  and  no  less  distinguished  for  the  bril- 
liant qualities  of  his  mind.     His  countenance  was  grave  and 


123 

florid,  of  a  sweet  expression,  and  full  of  life  and  vigor.  He 
excelled  in  conversation,  and  the  modesty  of  his  deportment, 
gave  a  singular  grace  to  an  air  of  superiority  and  dignity  that 
was  natural  to  him.  In  the  delivery  of  his  sermons,  he  was 
distinguished  for  his  animation ;  his  eyes  as  well  as  his  tongue 
were  wont  to  speak  Avith  such  majesty  as  well  as  solemnity, 
as  commanded  the  ears  and  hearts  of  his  audience.  Indeed, 
his  natural  accomplishments  were  such,  that  while  they  formed 
a  distinguished  divine,  they  might  have  qualified  him  equally 
as  a  judge  or  commander,  had  Providence  called  him  to  the 
bench  or  the  field. 

"The  first  time  I  saw  Mr.  Stevens,"  says  Dr.  Colman,  "he 
gained  my  esteem.  It  was  as  he  stood  for  his  first  degree, 
when  he  so  distinguished  himself  in  the  exercise  for  the  day, 
that  I  sought  out  his  chamber  to  encourage  him  in  his  studies, 
and  congratulated  his  father  upon  the  favor  of  God  to  him  in  so 
promising  a  son.  Others  also,  better  judges  than  I,  spake  of 
him  that  day  with  great  esteem  and  applause  ;  nor  did  he  fail 
the  expectations  he  had  raised  in  us.  Being  formed  by  the 
Father  of  spirits  for  thinking,  and  loving  his  studies,  he  soon 
became  eminent  for  his  years  in  acquired  learning,  and  was 
chosen  a  tutor  in  the  college  whereof  he  was  an  ornament. 
From  the  college  he  was  called  into  the  pastoral  office  at  Charles- 
town  ;  and  a  precious  gift  of  Christ  he  was  to  them,  to  whom 
I  need  not  say  how  he  was  among  them,  laboring  in  the  word 
and  doctrine,  and  ministering  to  their  souls.  He  was  eloquent 
and  fervent  in  the  pulpit,  solemn  in  praying  and  preaching, 
cheerful  and  grave  in  his  common  conversation,  wise  in  his  con- 
duct, gentle  as  a  father,  and  naturally  caring  for  the  flock, 
endearing  and  endeared  ;  more  especially  he  was  an  example  of 
profound  respect  to  the  senior  pastor,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bradstreet, 
who,  through  the  favor  of  God,  still  continues  with  us,  and  is 
every  Avay  the  fittest  person  to  have  prefaced  these  sermons, 
and  most  able  to  have  spoken  of  his  dear  deceased  colleague, 
who  was  with  him  as  a  son  with  a  father  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry.  In  short,  he  was  a  pastor  deservedly  beloved  and 
desired  by  his  people.  I  might  justly  repeat  here  much  of  the 
character  that  was  given  some  years  ago,  upon  the  death  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Brattle  and  Mr.  Pemberton,  the  beauties  of  whose 
souls  seemed  to  survive  in  Mr.  Stevens ;  the  meekness  of  the 


124 

one,  and  the  fervor  of  the  other.  How  bright  this  shade  !  He 
was  early  chose  a  fellow  of  the  corporation,  and  of  a  dutiful 
and  affectionate  son,  he  became  a  careful  and  tender  father,  and 
a  very  faithful  servant  of  the  college,  of  the  rights  and  interests 
whereof  he  was  a  wise  and  religious  judge.  When  I  remem- 
ber the  spirit  and  force  with  which  he  conversed  and  taught 
among  us,  methinks  he  yet  seemed  meant  for  many  a  year  to 
come,  and  that  his  children's  children  might  have  known  his 
aged  face,  and  been  taught  by  him ;  but  the  burning  and 
shining  light  was  lent  us  for  a  few  days  to  rejoice  in  ;  and  who 
shall  say  unto  Him  that  formed  and  gave  him,  why  is  he  so 
soon  taken  away  ?  To  himself  it  seemed  not  too  soon  or 
sudden,  being  helped  by  God  to  meet  his  death  with  a  most 
happy  composure,  calmness,  constancy,  serenity  and  peace  ; 
committing  himself  to  God  with  becoming  devotion,  naming 
and  taking  leave  of  his  friends  with  devout  affection,  praying 
for  the  flock,  and  blessing  his  family  with  his  dying  breath. 
But  the  sovereignty  of  God  is  unsearchable  in  the  great  and 
wide  breaches  on  his  family  ;  himself,  his  wife  and  two  child- 
ren dying  of  the  small-pox  within  a  few  weeks,  and  only  one 
single  branch  left,  his  Benjamin  !  whose  blessing  let  be  (by  the 
will  of  God)  according  to  his  name :  '  Beloved  of  the  Lord, 
and  dwelling  in  his  temple  and  covered  by  his  sanctuary. 
Deut.  xxxiii.  12.'  " 

I  have  also  been  put  in  possession  of  a  manuscript  volume, 
originally  owned  by  Mr.  Stevens,  in  which  he  has  written  a 
sermon,  and  various  memoranda  of  a  literary  and  personal  char- 
acter.^ The  sermon  was  preached  by  him,  on  the  23d  of 
August,  1707,  and  is,  therefore,  one  of  his  earliest  discourses. 
It  is  founded  upon  Luke  xiii.  2,  3  :  "  And  Jesus  answering,  said 
unto  them.  Suppose  ye  that  these  Galileans  were  sinners  above 
all  the  Galileans  because  they  suffered  such  things  ?  I  tell  you 
nay  ;  but  except  ye  repent  ye  shall  all  likewise  perish."  It  is 
a  very  serious  and  pungent  discouse,  teaching  "  that  the 
sharpest  miseries,  or  saddest  periods  of  this  life  are  no  demon- 
strative arguments  to  conclude  the  greatest  sinners  ;  "  and  "that 
all  those  who  do  not  unfeignedly  repent  of  their  sins  will 
certainly  perish."     And  having  discussed  these  points  at  con- 

1  Note  42. 


125 

siderable  length,  he  concludes  with  a  doxology  to  the  Holy 
Trinity. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Stevens,  Mr.  Bradstreet  was  without 
any  settled  assistant  for  more  than  two  years,  until  February 
5th,  1724,  when  the  Rev.  Hull  Abbot  was  ordained  associate 
pastor.  This  gentleman  was  a  native  of  Boston,  where  he  was 
born  June  15,  1702.  His  father  appears  to  have  followed  the 
seas,  for  he  was  lost  at  sea  in  February,  1718,  when  his  son 
was  between  fifteen  and  sixteen.  He  was  educated  at  Har- 
vard College,  and  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  student  who 
received  assistance  from  the  Hollis  fund.  In  the  year  1731, 
27th  July,  he  became  united  by  marriage  to  Mary  Bradstreet, 
the  daughter  of  the  senior  pastor  of  the  church.  Mr.  Abbot 
was  pastor  of  the  church  for  more  than  fifty  years.  For  about 
fifteen  years  he  was  associated  with  his  father-in-law,  in  per- 
forming the  labors  of  the  ministry ;  but  the  infirmities  of  Mr. 
Bradstreet  rendering  him  unable  to  preach,  the  people  became 
desirous  of  having  another  minister  settled,  and  accordingly  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Prentice  was  installed  an  associate  pastor,  October 
3d,  1739.^  The  death  of  Mr.  Bradstreet  took  place  on  the  31st 
December,  1741. 

We  have  now  arrived  at  a  period  when  it  will  be  necessary 
to  say  something  of  the  state  of  practical  religion.  It  was 
under  the  joint  ministry  of  Abbot  and  Prentice,  and  very  soon 
after  the  settlement  of  the  latter,  that  the  Great  Awakening 
commenced  in  this  region,  under  the  preaching  of  the  elo- 
quent Whitefield  and  other  divines  of  our  own  country.  To 
account  for  the  great  excitement  of  this  period,  and  the  wide- 
spread consequences  for  good  and  evil  which  followed  from  it, 
we  must  begin  with  the  religious  declension  that  preceded  it, 
and  the  causes  which  for  a  long  time  had  been  operating  to 
bring  on  this  declension.  The  churches,  and  to  no  inconsidera- 
ble extent  the  ministry,  had  undergone  a  material  change  from 
what  they  were  originally  ;  their  creed  indeed  remained  the 
same,  but  the  spirit  with  which  they  held  it,  was  a  very  differ- 
ent one  from  that  of  the  fathers.  Evidence  of  personal  religion 
not  being  strictly  required  of  those  who  approached  the  sacra- 
ments of  the  church,  a  profession  of  religion,  as  it  became  more 

»  Note  43. 


126 

general,  became  less  significant  than  formerly.  The  members 
of  the  chm'ch  were,  in  not  a  few  instances,  confessedly  igno- 
rant of  experimental  religion.  A  similar  degree  of  laxity  in 
admitting  candidates  to  the  ministry,  had  produced  similar  re- 
sults, and  the  character  of  the  clergy  corresponded,  as  it  always 
will,  with  that  of  the  churches. 

This  unhappy  decline  was  caused  in  the  first  instance,  per- 
haps, by  the  connection  of  our  churches  with  the  state.  It  is 
to  be  remembered  that  at  the  time  our  country  was  settled,  the 
independence  of  church  and  state  Avas  a  thing  entirely  unknown 
throughout  Christendom  ;  nor  was  it  supposed  possible  that 
either  could  exist  without  the  assistance  of  the  other.  Our 
Puritan  fathers,  in  the  establishment  of  their  civil  and  eccle- 
siastical institutions,  went  further  than  any  before  them  had 
ever  gone  in  rendering  the  church  independent  of  the  state ;  but 
still  there  was  a  real  union  between  the  two.  No  man  could 
vote  or  hold  an  office  unless  he  were  a  member  of  the  church. 
This  principle,  although  in  all  its  modifications  it  is  unjust  and 
hurtful,  would  have  been  accompanied  with  less  inconvenience 
in  practice,  had  the  terms  of  communion  been  in  this  country, 
what  they  were  in  England,  a  good  moral  character,  or  rather 
exemption  from  scandalous  vices.  But  when  it  came  to  be 
applied  in  connection  with  the  very  strictest  terms  of  commu- 
nion— distinct  and  satisfactory  evidence  of  regeneration — a 
condition  of  membership  which  was  regarded  by  the  fathers 
as  essential  to  the  life  of  our  churches ;  it  became  of  all  princi- 
ples the  most  preposterous  and  pernicious.  For  as  a  matter 
of  course,  when  church-membership  was  a  condition  of  the 
right  of  suffrage,  it  became  an  object  of  worldly  ambition,  as 
much  as  any  thing  else  which  might  be  necessary  to  obtain 
the  rights  of  a  freeman.  At  first,  the  number  of  those  who 
were  outside  of  the  pale  of  the  church  was  comparatively 
small ;  but  very  soon,  by  the  rapid  increase  of  population,  and 
by  continual  immigrations  from  England,  not  only  the  number, 
but  the  proportion  of  the  disfranchised  was  increased,  and 
thousands  began  to  clamor  for  their  rights.  It  required  but 
little  acquaintance  with  human  nature  to  foresee,  that,  as  a  con- 
sequence of  this  ill-advised  law,  the  constitution  of  the  churches 
would  be  trampled  under  foot,  and  the  strict  terms  of  com- 


127 

munion,  established  by  the  fathers,  be  reduced  so  as  to  extend 
the  right  of  suffrage  to  the  multitudes  who  desired  and  deserved 
it.  This  result  was  at  length  etfected,  not  indeed  by  the 
aggrieved,  but  by  those  who  introduced  the  half-way-covenant,  'i 
a  covenant  which  went  half  way  to  full  communion,  far  enough 
to  give  those  who  embraced  it  the  right  of  church-member- 
ship, and  the  privilege  of  baptism  for  their  households,  but  not 
far  enough  to  entitle  them  to  partake  of  the  Lord's  supper.  It 
required  that  those  who  entered  into  it,  should  renew  their 
baptismal  vows,  and  subject  themselves  and  their  families  to 
the  watch  and  discipline  of  the  church.  Had  the  theory  of 
that  covenant  been  carried  out,  it  might  have  been  the  source 
of  all  the  good  anticipated  ;  but  probably  it  was  the  vice  of  the 
system  that  it  could  not  be  carried  out  faithfully.  It  was 
looked  upon  by  many  as  a  form,  devised  to  procure  a  respecta- 
ble standing  in  the  community  ;  and  it  was  practiced  as  a  form, 
with  no  intention  to  discharge  the  duties,  or  submit  to  the  dis- 
cipline it  implied.  In  this  way  it  happened  that  the  discipline 
of  the  churches  was  neglected ;  indeed,  so  numerous  had  the 
children  of  the  covenant  become,  that  it  became  well  nigh  im- 
possible to  exercise  a  faithful  discipline,  inasmuch  as  almost  the 
whole  community  were  members  of  the  church  by  baptism. 

In  addition  to  these  causes,  it  became,  about  the  beginning 
of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  prevailing  opinion  that  the  sacra-  /^ 
ment  of  the  Lord's  supper  was  a  converting  ordinance,  and  con-  '^ 
sequently  that  all  who  were  seriously  disposed  to  use  the  means 
of  grace,  were  to  be  invited  to  it.  This  of  course  put  an  end 
to  discipline,  and  soon  destroyed  the  distinctive  character  of  the 
churches.  It  was  also  disseminating  a  new  theology,  which 
taught  that  man's  duty  was  to  attend  upon  the  means  of  grace, 
in  hope  that  God  would,  at  some  future  time,  see  fit  to  bestow 
renewing  grace.  This  was  the  seminal  principle  of  Arminian- 
ism,  as  distinguished  from  Calvinism.  The  first-mentioned 
system  did  not  deny  any  of  the  cardinal  doctrines  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, but  was  chiefly  to  be  distinguished  from  the  last  by  its 
practical  spirit.  The  Arminian,  while  he  admitted  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Gospel,  would  speak  rather  of  its  precepts ;  while 
he  believed  in  the  necessity  of  regeneration  by  the  Spirit  of 
God,  and  the  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith  alone,  he  would 
exhort  sinners  to  the  faithful  performance  of  moral  duties,  trust- 


128 

ing  in  God  that  he  would  secretly  perform  his  work  in  the 
heart.  Such  was  the  state  of  things  the  first  quarter  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  Arminianism  was  not  publicly  avowed, 
for  it  was  generally  the  people's  abhorrence  ;  but  it  was  secretly 
cherished,  and  it  was  gradually  gaining  strength  in  conse- 
quence of  the  lax  practices  of  the  church.  In  a  word,  it  was 
the  beginning  of  an  apostasy  from  the  principles  of  the  fathers, 
which  has  issued  in  the  present  century  in  a  division  of  the 
Congregational  churches  into  two  denominations. 

In  the  book  of  admissions  to  the  church,  we  find  the  years 
1728  and  1741,  distinguished  for  the  number  received  into  our 
communion.  The  first  mentioned,  was  the  year  after  the  great 
earthquake,  which  took  place  October  29,  1727,  and  shook  the 
whole  country  north  of  the  Delaware  river.  It  was  on  the 
night  of  the  Sabbath,  a  calm  and  serene  evening.  "About 
forty  minutes  past  ten  o'clock,"  says  Mr.  Prince,  pastor  of 
the  Old  South  church,  "was  heard  a  loud,  hollow  noise, 
like  the  roaring  of  a  great  chimney  on  fire,  but  inconceivably 
more  fierce  and  terrible.  In  about  a  half  a  minute,  the  earth 
began  to  heave  and  tremble.  The  shock  increasing,  rose  to  the 
height  in  about  a  minute  more ;  when  the  movables,  doors, 
windows,  walls,  especially  in  the  upper  chambers,  made  a  very 
fearful  clattering,  and  the  houses  rocked  and  crackled,  as  if 
they  were  all  dissolving  and  falling  to  pieces.  The  people 
asleep  were  awakened  with  the  greatest  astonishment ;  many 
others  affrighted,  ran  into  the  streets.  But  the  shaking  quickly 
abated,  and  in  another  half  minute,  entirely  ceased."  ^  The 
next ,  morning  a  large  assembly  convened  in  the  North  church, 
Boston,  for  religious  services  ;  and  in  the  evening,  the  First  and 
South  churches  were  crowded  with  attentive  auditories.  The 
ministers  availed  themselves  of  this  opportunity,  and  preached 
the  gospel  with  renewed  faithfulness  to  an  awakened  people. 
And  as  a  consequence  of  these  efforts,  and  by  the  blessing  of 
God,  large  numbers  were  added  to  the  several  churches  in 
Boston,  and  upwards  of  seventy  to  the  communion  of  our  own 
church  during  a  period  of  six  months.  In  the  year  1735,  a 
remarkable  attention  to  religion  took  place  in  Northampton, 
under  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards.     This  may 

*  Wisnej-'s  Hist.  O.  S.  Chh.  p.  25.    See  also  Note  44. 


129 

be  regarded  as  the  commencement  of  the  "  Great  Awakening."^ 
It  was  a  scene  which  I  need  not  describe,  for  happily  the  grace 
of  God  has  so  muUiphed  them,  that  we  are  aU  famihar  with 
them.  "  The  town,"  says  Edwards,  "  seemed  to  be  full  of  the 
presence  of  God  :  it  never  was  so  fuU  of  love,  nor  so  full  of  joy, 
and  yet  so  full  of  distress  as  it  was  then.  There  were  remark- 
able tokens  of  God's  presence  in  almost  every  house. — Our 
public  assemblies  were  then  beautiful ;  the  congregation  was 
alive  in  God's  service,  every  one  earnestly  intent  on  the  public 
worship,  every  hearer  eager  to  drink  in  the  words  of  the  min- 
ister as  they  came  from  his  mouth ;  the  assembly  in  general 
were,  from  time  to  time,  in  tears  while  the  word  was  preached  ; 
some  weeping  with  sorrow  and  distress,  others  with  joy  and 
love,  others  with  pity  and  concern  for  the  souls  of  their 
neighbors."  ^ 

But  there  was  no  general  religious  movement  in  this  vicinity 
mitil  the  autumn  of  1740,  when  the  Rev.  George  Whitelield 
arrived  in  Boston,  being  invited  by  some  of  the  most  eminent 
ministers  and  laymen.  The  week  after  his  arrival,  he  preached 
in  this  place,  and  says,  "  A  gracious  melting  was  discernible 
through  the  whole  congregation,  and  I  perceived  much  freedom 
and  sweetness  in  my  own  soul."  And  again  he  preached  in 
this  place  a  short  time  after  (being  accompanied  by  Mr.  Cooper, 
of  the  Brattle  street  church,  in  Boston)  "with  much  demonstra- 
tion of  the  Spirit,"  and  collected  £156  for  his  orphan  house — a 
sum  of  money  which  shows  how  powerfully  his  magic  eloquence 
wrought  upon  the  benevolent  sympathies  of  the  people. 

Mr.  Whitefield  remained  in  this  vicinity  about  a  month, 
preaching  to  immense  congregations,  and  with  results  apparently 
the  most  happy.  After  he  left,  the  attention  of  the  people 
continued,  and  for  two  years,  the  revival  seemed  to  deepen  and 
extend. 

''In  this  year,  1741,"  says  Mr.  Prince  of  Boston,  "  the  very 
face  of  the  town  seemed  to  be  strangely  altered.  Some  who 
had  not  been  here  since  the  fall  before,  have  told  me  their 
great  surprise  at  the  change  in  the  general  look  and  carriage 

'  For  a  full  history  of  this  religious  movement,  compare  Pres.  Edwards's  "  Thoughts  on  the 
Revival  of  Keligiou  in  New  England  ;"  Dr.  C'hauncey's  "  Reasonable  Thoughts ;"  'IVacy's 
"Great  Awakenmg;"  Bacon's  "Historical  Discourses,"  and  Dutton's  "History  of  tlae 
North  Church  in  New  Haven." 

*  Edwards's  Narrative  of  (Surprising  Coaversioas. 

17 


130 

of  people,  as  soon  as  they  landed. And  one  of  our  worthy 

gentlemen  expressing  his  wonder  at  the  remarkable  change, 
informed  me,  that  whereas  he  used  with  others  on  Saturday 
evenings  to  visit  the  taverns,  in  order  to  clear  them  of  town 
inhabitants,  they  were  wont  to  find  many  there,  and  meet  with 
trouble  to  get  them  away;  but  now,  having  gone  at  those 
seasons  again,  he  found  them  empty  of  all  but  lodgers."  ^ 

About  eighty  persons  appear  to  have  been  gathered  into  our 
church  as  fruits  of  this  revival. 

Had  these  been  the  only  consequences  of  that  excitement, 
we  should  have  occasion  for  unmixed  gratitude  to  God.  But  a 
wild  fanaticism  sprung  up,  to  which  even  the  sober  and  judi- 
cious for  a  time  gave  their  influence,  and  which  brought  the 
genuine  work  of  God  into  discredit  with  no  small  part  of  the 
community.  The  fervent  piety  and  Christian  zeal  of  Mr. 
Whitefield,  are  as  unquestionable,  as  his  eloquence  and  power 
over  human  hearts.  But  his  career,  for  brilliancy  and  success, 
was  so  bewitching,  that  many  lost  sight  of  its  erratic  character, 
and  seemed  to  forget  that  if  it  should  be  sanctioned  as  a  pre- 
cedent, it  would  be  the  destruction  of  the  regular  ministry,  and 
in  the  end  productive  of  infinitely  more  evil  than  good. 

The  confusion  and  extravagance  which  followed  in  the 
train  of  the  great  revival  of  1740,  constitutes  one  of  the  saddest 
and  yet  one  of  the  most  instructive  lessons  of  our  religious 
history.  There  is  a  great  law  in  the  moral  world,  as  in  the 
natural,  that  action  and  re-action  are  equal.  To  whatever 
extent  we  go  beyond  the  bounds  of  reason  in  our  efforts 
to  promote  the  cause  of  truth,  to  at  least  an  equal  extent 
will  that  cause  recede,  and  error  gain  ground.  Before  the 
days  of  Whitefield,  practical  religion  was,  no  doubt,  at  a 
low  ebb ;  and  when  the  awakening  began,  one  extreme  begat 
another — the  new  movement  derived  an  impulse  from  the  pre- 
vious neglect  into  which  spiritual  religion  had  fallen.  But  the 
final  issues  of  that  religious  "awakening,"  like  those  of  every 
other,  have  fully  proved  that  true  religion  can  never  be  per- 
manently advanced,  except  by  the  instrumentality  of  God's 
appointment — a  regular  and  settled  ministry.  It  cannot  admit 
of  a  doubt,  that,  while  Mr.  Whitefield's  apostolic  labors  were 

1  Tracy's  Great  Awakening,  p.  120. 


131 

attended  by  many  of  the  happiest  results,  they  were  likewise 
productive  of  no  small  amount  of  evil,  by  giving  dignity  to 
itinerants,  who,  as  a  class,  always  have  been  injurious  to  a 
community,  in  which  the  institutions  of  religion  are  estab- 
lished. 

Mr.  Whitefield  was  succeeded,  as  might  have  been  anticipated, 
by  men  who  had  little  else  than  their  zeal  to  commend  them ; 
who,  mistaking  a  blind  impulse  for  a  monition  of  the  Spirit  of 
God,  left  their  appropriate  sphere  of  action,  and  taking  upon 
themselves  the  supervision  of  the  ministry,  and  the  care  of  all 
the  churches,  proceeded  to  examine  their  brethren  and  fathers 
in  the  ministry,  pronounce  upon  their  character  and  usefulness, 
and  thus  trumpet  their  own  censoriousness,  while  they  spread 
division  and  alienation  through  the  community.  These  cleri- 
cal itinerants  were  again,  in  their  turn,  imitated  and  followed  by 
lay  exhorters,  who  added  ignorance  to  zeal,  and  rapidly  brought 
their  cause  into  contempt. 

Of  the  former  class,  one  of  the  most  notorious  was  the  Rev. 
James  Davenport,  of  Southold,  Long  Island.  Impelled  by 
enthusiastic  impulses,  he  left  his  own  people  unprovided  for, 
and  began  to  itinerate  among  the  churches.  He  arrived  at 
Charlestown,  Friday  evening,  June  25th,  1742.  Till  this 
event,  the  revival  of  religion  had  happily  advanced  among  the 
people.  On  the  Lord's  day  he  attended  public  worship,  and 
communed  with  this  church.  From  a  manuscript  journal,  ^  I 
learn  that  Mr.  Prentice  preached  that  morning  from  Matthew 
v.  6  :  "  Blessed  are  they  that  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteous- 
ness, for  they  shall  be  filled."  In  the  afternoon  Mr.  Abbot 
preached  from  2  Corinthians  v.  14,  15:  "For  the  love  of  Christ 
constraineth  us,"  &c. ;  but  Mr.  Davenport  "  stayed  at  his  lodg- 
ings from  an  apprehension  of  the  ministers  being  unconverted, 
which  greatly  alarmed  us,"  says  Prince.  The  next  day  Mr. 
Davenport  went  to  Boston,  and  the  associated  pastors  of  Boston 
and  Charlestown  being  then  assembled,  they  sent  a  communica- 
tion to  him,  and  requested  an  interview,  to  which  he  readily 
consented.  In  the  declaration  which  they  published  on  Friday, 
they  say  that  Mr.  Davenport  "appeared  to  them  truly  pious;" 


'  By  the  kindness  of  G.  A.  Kettell,  Esq.,  1  have  been  put  in  possession  of  several  little 
MS.  volumes  containing  very  I'ulJ  notes  of  llie  sermons  preached  in  Charlestown  lor  many 
successive  years. 


132 

but  so  misguided  that  he  was  acting  to  the  great  disservice  of 
religion,  and  that  they  therefore  judged  it  to  be  their  duty  not 
to  invite  him  into  their  places  of  worship.  But  they  availed 
themselves  of  this  opportunity  to  repeat  their  "testimony  to  the 
great  and  glorious  work  of  God  among  them." 

This  was  signed  by  the  two  pastors  of  this  church,  and  all 
the  ministers  of  Boston,  except  Dr.  Chauncy. 

"By  this  declaration,  however,"  says  Mr.  Prince,  "many 
were  offended  ;  and  some  days  after,  Mr.  Davenport  thought 
himself  obliged  to  begin  in  his  public  exercises  to  declare 
against  us  also ;  naming  some  as  unconverted,  representing  the 
rest  as  Jehoshaphat  in  Ahab's  army,  and  exhorting  the  people 
to  separate  from  us :  which  so  diverted  the  minds  of  many  from 
being  concerned  about  their  own  conversion,  to  think  and  dis- 
pute about  the  case  of  others,  as  not  only  seemed  to  put  an  awful 
stop  to  their  awakenings,  but  on  all  sides  to  roil  our  passions' 
and  provoke  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  a  gradual  and  dreadful  measure, 
to  withdraw  his  influence."  ^ 

A  disputatious  and  censorious  spirit  prevailed ;  and  lamenta- 
ble was  the  state  of  things  that  ensued  after  the  "  great 
awakening." 

So  strongly  were  a  large  portion  of  the  ministers  excited 
against  these  recent  disorders  and  extravagances,  that  the  Gen- 
eral Convention  of  Congregational  Ministers  in  Massachusetts, 
at  their  annual  meeting,  in  May,  1743,  bore  testimony  against 
several  errors  in  doctrine,  and  disorders  in  practice  ;  among 
which  were  "  itinerancy,"  lay  preaching,  censorious  judgment 
of  others,  and  enthusiastic  emotions  mistaken  for  the  operations 
of  the  divine  Spirit. 

While  all  these  errors  no  doubt  existed,  and  as  such  deserved 
censure,  still  the  action  of  the  Convention  gave  offence  to  a 
large  proportion  of  the  ministers  of  the  colony,  because  no 
recognition  was  made  of  God's  grace  in  the  recent  glorious 
awakening. 

Accordingly  a  meeting  was  called  of  such  as  were  "persuaded 
there  has  of  late  been  a  happy  revival  of  religion,  through 
an  extraordinary  divine  influence."  About  ninety  pastors  of 
churches  responded  to  this  call,  and  met  in  Boston,  July  7,  1743. 

'  Christian  TJist.  II.  403,  quoted  by  Tracy. 


133 

They  drew  up  a  paper  entitled  "Testimony  and  Advice," 
which  was  a  warm  hearted  and  grateful  acknowledgement  of 
the  grace  of  God  in  the  late  revival,  and  an  earnest  exhortation 
against  the  disorders  which  had  been  brought  to  the  prejudice 
of  a  genuine  work  of  God's  grace.  This  paper  was  signed  by 
most  of  the  ministers  in  this  vicinity,  and  a  large  number  from 
different  parts  of  New  England.  The  two  pastors  of  this  church 
united  with  fomteen  others  in  signing  the  Testimony,  "  for 
the  substance  of  it,  excepting  that  article  of  itinerancy,  or  min- 
isters and  others  intruding  into  other  ministers'  parishes  without 
their  consent,  which  great  disorder  they  apprehended  not 
sufficiently  testified  against  therein." 

In  this  "  Testimony  and  Advice,"  they  say — 

"  We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  annexed,  pastors  of  churches 
in  New  England,  met  together  in  Boston,  July  7,  1743,  think 
it  our  indispensable  duty,  (without  judging  or  censuring  such  of 
our  brethren  as  cannot  at  present  see  things  in  the  same  light 
with  us,)  in  this  open  and  conjunct  manner  to  declare,  to  the 
glory  of  sovereign  grace,  our  full  persuasion,  either  from  what 
we  have  seen  ourselves,  or  received  upon  credible  testimony, 
that  there  has  been  a  happy  and  remarkable  revival  of  religion 
in  many  parts  of  this  land,  through  an  uncommon  divine  influ- 
ence ;  after  a  long  time  of  great  decay  and  deadness,  and  a 
sensible  and  very  awful  withdraw  of  the  Holy  Spirit  from  his 
sanctuary  among  us."  And  then  after  "  freely  declaring  their 
thoughts  as  to  this  work  of  God,"  they  say — 

"  And  now,  we  desire  to  bow  the  knee  in  thanksgiving  to 
the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  our  eyes 
have  seen  and  our  ears  heard  such  things.  And  while  these  are 
our  sentiments,  we  must  necessarily  be  grieved  at  any  accounts 
sent  abroad,  representing  this  work  as  all  enthusiasm,  delusion 
and  disorder." 

That  there  had  been  "  irregularities,  extravagances  and  dan- 
gerous mistakes,"  they  admitted ;  but  they  regarded  them  as 
spots  in  the  sun. 

Concerning  the  statements  and  views  of  the  pastors  attending 
this  meeting,  Mr.  Prince  says,  that  very  few  complained  of 
errors  or  disorders  in  the  parishes  they  belonged  to  ;  and  that 
others  declared  that  where  there  had  been  some  disorders  at 
first,  yet  in  a  little  while  they  saw  and  owned  their  mistakes, 


134 

and  that  both  errors  and  disorders  were  greatly  magnified  and 
multiplied,  and  existed  to  the  greatest  degree  in  those  places 
where  the  ministers  opposed  the  work.^ 

Indeed,  it  is  manifest,  that  the  great  body  of  the  pastors  were 
disposed  to  make  a  just  discrimination ;  while  they  acknowl- 
edged with  gratitude  the  fact  of  the  late  revival,  they  were 
opposed  to  irregular  ministrations,  and  to  the  excesses  with 
which  some  of  the  friends  of  the  work  were  chargeable. 

But  besides  this  moderate  class,  there  were  others  who  were 
verging  to  opposite  extremes. 

There  were  on  the  one  hand  those  hot-headed,  but  well-mean- 
ing men,  who  were  so  intent  upon  immediate  results,  as  to  be 
careless  of  the  principles  upon  which  they  acted,  and  the  con- 
sequences that  were  likely  to  ensue.  Of  these,  the  most  promi- 
nent was  the  Rev.  James  Davenport.  But  it  is  due  to  this 
gentleman  to  say,  that  during  a  portion  of  his  career,  he  was 
obviously  insane,  and  that  he  was  finally  brought  to  perceive 
his  errors,  and  publish  an  humble  confession. 

There  were  those  on  the  other  hand  who  confined  their  at- 
tention to  the  disorders  and  errors  that  were  to  be  found  in  con- 
nection with  the  revival,  and  were  unwilling  to  admit  the  exis- 
tence of  a  work  of  God,  but  pronounced  it  all  a  pernicious  enthu- 
siasm. Of  these,  the  principal  leader  and  champion  was  Rev. 
Dr,  Chauncy,  one  of  the  pastors  of  the  First  chiurch,  Boston. 
This  gentleman  wrote  and  published  much  in  opposition  to 
the  religious  movements  of  the  day.  While  Edwards  and 
other  friends  of  the  revival,  from  the  warmth  of  their  interest 
in  it,  gave  too  much  encouragement  to  mere  ebullitions  of 
excitement,  and  spoke  with  indiscreet  lenity  of  errors,  which 
they  ought  pointedly  to  have  condemned  j  Dr.  Chauncy 
was  led  by  his  disgust  for  the  excesses  of  the  day,  to 
overlook  and  deny  what  was  really  a  "  great  awakening  " 
of  our  slumbering  churches  to  truth  and  righteousness.  It 
is  melancholy  as  well  as  instructive,  to  observe  the  pro- 
gress of  Dr.  Chauncy's  mind.  Putting  himself  in  the  attitude 
of  an  opposer,  and  starting  with  premises  which  were  in  the 
main  both  scriptural  and  reasonable,  he  prosecuted  the  course 
he  had  taken,  till  he  left  the  platform  of  the  Fathers,  and  in 

'  Tracy's  Great  Awakening,  chap.  xvi. 


135 

the  advocacy  of  heresy,  drew  after  him  the  venerable  church 
of  Wilson  and  Cotton,  of  which  ours  had  been  the  twin  sister, 
and  with  which,  till  then,  it  had  been  united  in  the  same  faith 
and  hope. 

The  great  lesson  which  the  history  of  this  period  is 
fitted  to  teach,  is,  that  the  mistakes  and  indiscretions  of  the 
friends  of  truth,  are  of  all  the  most  hurtful,  and  instead  of 
being  palliated  and  forgiven  because  of  their  connection,  they 
should  on  that  very  account  be  the  more  severely  dealt  with. 
One  extreme  begets  another.  And  when  our  churches,  awaken- 
ing from  deep  lethargy,  pushed  certain  truths  of  our  religion 
to  an  extreme  which  disturbed  the  analogy  of  faith,  they  paved 
the  way  for  the  introduction  of  fundamental  error. 


LECTURE    VIII. 


Psalm    Ixxvii.    11  — 13. 

I   WILL    REMEMBER    THE    WORKS    OF    THE    LoRD ;     SURELY    I    WILL    REMEMBER    THT 
WONDERS  OF  OLD.      I    WILL  MKDITATE  ALSO   OF  ALL   THY  WORK,  AND  TALK  OF   THY 

DOINGS.    Thy  way,  O  God,  is  is  the  sanctuary  :  who  is  so  great  a  god  as 
OUR  God  ! 

In  the  previous  Lectures  I  have  detained  your  attention  upon 
memorials  of  the  first  century ; — of  the  last  hundred  years  I 
shall  speak  more  briefly — the  facts  are  for  the  most  part  familiar, 
and  of  some  of  them  the  time  has  not  come  to  write  a  full  and 
impartial  history.  Besides  this,  during  the  last  century  religion 
occupied  a  smaller  share  of  the  public  attention  than  previously  ; 
ecclesiastical  affairs  receded  from  the  field  of  public  discussion, 
and  political  matters  grew  in  importance  and  interest,  until  at 
length  the  energies  of  both  clergy  and  people  were  absorbed  in 
the  struggle  for  national  independence.  I  shall,  therefore,  pass 
very  rapidly  over  our  later  history,  and  avoid  for  the  most  part 
those  personal  details  which  I  have  made  it  a  point  to  collect 
in  regard  to  the  previous  pastors. 

After  the  great  awakening  which  followed  the  visit  of 
Whitefield  to  our  country,  and  of  which  a  narrative  was  given 
in  the  last  Lecture,  little  or  nothing  occurred  to  diversify  our 
religious  history  till  the  Revolution.  The  church  remained 
under  the  joint  ministry  of  Rev.  Messrs.  Abbot  and  Prentice, 
until  the  death  of  Mr.  Abbot,  which  took  place  April  19,  1774, 
after  a  ministry  of  more  than  fifty  years,  a  longer  period  of  time 
than  any  other  pastor  ever  served  the  church.  He  was  honor- 
ably interred  by  the  town,  and  the  body  was  borne  to  the  grave 
by  Dr.  Appleton,  Mr.  Storer,  Dr.  Mather,  Dr.  Byles,  Mr.  Pren- 


137 

tice  and  Mr.  Cook.     He  would  have  completed  his  seventy- 
second  year  the  15th  of  June  followmg.^ 

Mr.  Abbot  was  an  orthodox  and  able  minister,  and  main- 
tained a  respectable  standing  among  the  clergy  of  his  day.  A 
number  of  his  manuscript  sermons  are  among  us,  and  so  far 
as  I  am  enabled  to  judge,  they  are  characterized  by  sound 
doctrine  and  ministerial  faithfulness.  Of  his  published  produc- 
tions, I  have  perused  only  a  sermon  preached  before  "  The 
Honorable  Artillery  Company,  June  3,  1735." ^  The  text  was 
taken  from  the  triumphant  song  of  Moses :  "  The  Lord  is  a 
man  of  war."  Exodus  xv.  3.  The  discourse  maintains  the 
doctrine,  that  "  The  Lord  God  of  Israel,  is  eminently  a  man  of 
war."  This  startling  proposition  he  carries  out  into  the  follow- 
ing particulars :  "  He  is  the  chief  and  absolute  monarch  and 
commander  of  all  the  creatures  which  he  has  made  ;  he  dis- 
poses men's  hearts  to  engage  in  wars  and  battles  ;  he  musters 
the  forces  together,  and  leads  them  as  their  general  into  the 
field  of  battle ;  he  mstructs  the  people  in  the  art  and  mystery 
of  war,  and  endows  them  with  martial  skill  and  valor  ;  he  hath 
the  absolute  disposals  of  all  the  weapons  in  the  day  of  battle ; 
he  causes  it  to  continue  or  cease  whenever  he  pleases,  and  over- 
rules the  great  events  of  it,  and  gives  success  and  victory  to 
whomsoever  he  pleases."  From  the  character  of  God  as  thus 
described,  he  derived  the  following  inferences  and  reflections: 
"  We  see  something  of  the  majesty  and  glory  of  the  God  of 
Israel,  for  which  he  is  greatly  to  be  feared  and  praised  by  his 
people  ;  we  see  hence  the  lawfulness  of  war  and  of  the  military 
art ;  since  God  is  styled  a  man  of  war,  the  oflice  of  a  soldier 
should  be  esteemed  an  honorable  profession  and  employment  ; 
since  the  Holy  God  is  styled  a  man  of  war,  all  soldiers  and  men 
of  war  should  be  holy ;  we  see  hence  where  soldiers  must 
repair  for,  and  to  whom  they  must  give  the  glory  of  their 
military  skill,  valor  and  success  in  wars,  viz.,  to  the  God  of 
armies,  who  is  eminently  a  man  of  war ;  we  learn  that  war  is  a 
most  sore  and  desolating  judgment  inflicted  by  the  Lord  him- 
self." This  representation  of  the  divine  character  and  of  the 
moral  nature  of  war,  would  not  only  be  offensive  to  the  advo- 

1  Note  43.  2  Note  46. 

18 


138 

cates  of  what  are  called  "peace  principles;"  but  would  be 
objected  to  by  all  classes  of  Christians  at  the  present  day,  as 
being  alike  untrue  to  the  interpretation  of  Scripture  and  to 
the  spirit  of  the  gospel.  There  is  no  doubt  that  our  fathers 
looked  upon  war  with  different  feelings  from  what  we  are 
accustomed  to  do ;  and  that  in  this  respect  the  spirit  of  Chris- 
tianity is  more  correctly  apprehended  now,  than  formerly  ;  yet 
the  sermon  of  which  I  have  just  given  a  synopsis,  can  hardly 
be  looked  upon  as  a  faithful  index  of  the  public  sentiment  at 
that  day,  or  indeed  of  the  author's  own  principles ;  it  has  a 
greater  apparent  than  real  contrariety  to  the  reigning  opinions 
of  modern  Christians.  But  if  a  choice  must  be  made  between 
two  extremes,  the  error  of  our  fathers  is  a  less  mischievous 
one  than  that  modern  extravagance  which  denies  to  individuals 
and  communities  the  inalienable  right  of  self-defence,  dissolves 
the  bands  of  government,  and  supplants  the  authority  of  law 
with  idle  talk  of  moral  suasion. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Abbot,  left  Mr.  Prentice  the  sole  pastor  of 
the  church,  and  dissolved  the  last  colleague  pastorship  which  has 
existed  in  this  church.  There  is  a  tradition  that  an  unhappy 
difference  existed  between  these  associate  ministers  ;  and  the 
story  is  probably  not  altogether  without  foundation ;  and  this 
we  may  believe  without  charging  these  excellent  men  with, 
any  greater  infirmities  than  belong  to  men  generally.  The 
occasion  if  not  the  cause  for  this,  lay  in  the  indeterminate  and 
somewhat  inconsistent  relations  of  two  pastors,  sustaining  the 
same  relations  to  the  same  people.  This  infelicity  did  not 
originally  attach  to  the  associate  ministry,  as  established  by 
the  puritan  fathers  of  our  churches.  They,  you  will  remem- 
ber, divided  the  duties  of  the  ministry  into  two  distinct  classes, 
to  correspond  with  the  scriptural  titles  teacher  and  pastor,  giving 
to  one  the  business  of  doctrinal  instruction,  and  to  the  other 
that  of  exhortation  and  pastoral  visitation.  The  only  practical 
objection  that  can  be  brought  against  this  distinction,  is  the 
difficulty  of  maintaining  it ; — after  the  death  of  the  elder  Shep- 
ard,  it  seems  to  have  been  lost  sight  of,  and  each  minister  was 
settled  with  the  title  of  pastor,  and  ordained  to  the  discharge 
of  the  same  duties.  Hence  arose  those  practical  difficulties 
which  have  resulted  in  the  general  discontinuance  of  a  col- 


139 

league  ministry.  No  man,  however  excellent  his  disposition, 
or  superior  his  qualifications,  can  work  happily  and  well,  luiless 
his  duties  and  his  rights  are  clearly  defined  and  carefully 
respected.  The  experience  of  mankind,  in  all  the  relations  of 
life,  has  shown  this  to  be  the  principal  law  upon  which  the 
harmony  of  men  is  dependent ;  most  of  the  bickerings  and 
alienations  of  human  life,  arise  in  the  beginning  from  a  misap- 
prehension of  common  rights  or  mutual  obligations  ;  and 
oftentimes  the  only  method  of  composing  these  diflerences, 
notwithstanding  the  utmost  good  feeling  on  one  or  both  sides, 
is  that  adopted  by  Abram,  when  he  said  unto  Lot,  ^'  Let  there 
be  no  strife,  I  pray  thee,  between  me  and  thee,  for  we  be 
brethren.  Is  not  the  whole  land  before  thee  ?  Separate  thy- 
self, I  pray  thee,  from  me  :  if  thou  wilt  take  the  left-hand,  then 
I  will  go  to  the  right;  or,  if  thou  depart  to  the  right-hand,  then 
I  will  go  to  the  left."  That  must  indeed  be  a  perfect  char- 
acter, which,  in  the  continual  friction  of  daily  contact,  does 
not  present  unevenness  enough  to  fret  and  inflame  some  pecu- 
liarities of  disposition  in  another.  It  is  dangerous  to  interfere 
with  the  regular  operation  of  the  laws  which  the  Creator  has 
established.  There  can  be  no  unity  without  some  one  acknowl- 
edged head  ;  and  without  unity  there  can  be  no  harmony. 
God,  therefore,  has  organized  individuals  into  families,  and 
families  into  communities.  Some  duties  and  rights  belong  ex- 
clusively to  the  individual  ;  others  to  the  head  of  the  family  ; 
and  others  again  to  the  head  of  the  community.  If  these 
relations  of  society  are  disturbed,  these  rights  and  duties  com- 
mingled, confusion  and  conflict  will  inevitably  be  the  conse- 
quence, and  that  too,  notwithstanding  the  utmost  excellence 
of  personal  character.  We  should  be  inclined,  therefore,  to 
refer  any  diflerences  that  may  have  existed  between  Mr.  Abbot 
and  Mr.  Prentice,  to  the  confusion  of  their  relations  to  the 
church ;  and  would  not  remember  them  to  the  prejudice  of 
either,  but  forget  them,  or  remember  them  only  in  connection 
with  the  important  moral  lesson  they  illustrate. 

Mr.  Abbot  died,  as  the  date  shows,  just  before  the  outbreak 
of  the  Revolution.  On  the  17th  of  June,  in  the  following  year, 
the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  was  fought,  the  town  reduced  to 
ashes,  and  the  people,  with  their  surviving  pastor,  scattered  to 


140 

find  temporary  homes  as  they  might,  in  the  neighboring  towns. 
I  may  not  dwell  upon  this  memorable  scene  ;  it  belongs  rather 
to  the  civil  than  the  ecclesiastical  historian.  It  is  impossible  to 
portray,  as  without  experience  it  is  impossible  to  conceive,  the 
dismay  of  the  people,  when  flying  from  their  homes,  the  sepul- 
chres of  their  fathers,  and  their  ancient  sanctuary,  they  looked 
behind  them  only  to  behold  one  wide  conflagration  spreading 
desolation  from  shore  to  shore.  We  cannot  doubt  that  as  the 
combatants  on  yonder  hill,  saw  the  flames  shoot  up  and  wind 
around  the  spire  of  our  church,  till,  like  a  faithful  sentinel,  the 
first  to  meet  the  enemy,  it  fell  first  among  the  dwellings  over 
which  it  had  seemed  to  watch  for  three  quarters  of  a  century  j 
we  cannot  doubt  that  the  sight  sent  a  more  desperate  determi- 
nation to  the  hearts  of  the  patriots  who  were  immortalizing 
themselves  and  the  soil  on  which  they  stood,  by  their  deeds  of 
heroic  valor,  and  deepened,  in  the  minds  of  the  spectators  on 
the  heights  of  Boston,  the  conviction,  that  the  last  tie  was 
sundered  which  bound  the  daughter  to  the  mother  country  ! 

We  cannot  tell  how  much  was  lost  in  that  conflagration — 
how  much  that  would  have  cast  light  upon  the  antiquities  of 
this  church  and  town — how  much  that  might  have  served  to 
connect  us  with  the  pilgrim  fathers ;  our  communion  plate, 
however,  bearing  in  their  inscriptions  testimonies  of  the  early 
piety  of  the  church — our  ancient  and  invaluable  records,  to- 
gether with  those  of  the  town,  were  by  some  trust-worthy 
hands  preserved  ,•  and  that  this  much  was  accomplished  amid 
the  bewildering  excitement  and  terrors  of  that  day,  cannot  fail 
to  be  a  matter  of  grateful  surprise. 

"At  this  time,"  say  our  church  records,  "upwards  of  three 
hundred  and  eighty  dwelling  houses  and  other  buildings,  valued 
at  £  156,900  18s.  8d.,  were  consumed,  and  two  thousand  per- 
sons reduced  from  aflluence  and  mediocrity,  to  the  most  aggra- 
vated exile," 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Prentice  retired  to  Cambridge,  where  he 
continued  to  reside  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  In  a  short 
time,  however,  the  people  began  to  return  in  considerable 
numbers,  and  the  town  to  rise  again  from  its  ashes.  After  an 
interval  of  something  like  three  years,  the  public  worship  of 
God,  and  the  ordhiances  of  religion,  were  re-established  under 


141 

the  ministry  of  the  now  aged  Prentice.  "  The  first  adminis- 
tration of  the  Lord's  supper,"  says  Mr.  Prentice  (as  quoted  by 
Dr.  Morse  in  the  church  records)  "  in  Charlestown,  since  the 
destruction  by  the  cruelest  British  enemies,  was  November  8, 
1778,  with  great  solemnity  and  fuhiess  of  members  beyond 
expectation." 

Upon  the  return  of  our  people,  they  found  themselves  much 
in  the  same  situation  in  which  the  first  settlers  were,  except 
indeed  that  their  means  were  more  limited,  and  their  condition, 
if  possible,  more  deplorable.  Winthrop  and  some  of  his  com- 
panions possessed  handsome  fortunes  ;  very  few  were  poor — 
the  body  of  them  being  of  the  middling  class.  But  when  the 
exiled  inhabitants  of  Charlestown  returned,  they  came,  the 
most  of  them,  with  no  possessions  save  the  blackened  sites  of 
their  once  comfortable  homes.  They  came  not,  with  Win- 
throp, to  behold  the  primitive  forests  of  Mishawum,  but  to 
look  upon  a  sight  more  forbidding — a  naked  and  blackened 
soil;  they  feared  to  walk  abroad,  not  lest  the  Indian  should 
way-lay  them,  but  lest  they  should  fall  into  wells  or  cellars, 
which  the  fire  had  either  uncovered  or  covered  only  to  ensnare. 
Of  course  they  had  no  fit  place  for  their  Sabbath  assemblies, 
and,  as  at  the  beginning,  they  were  under  the  necessity  of 
fitting  up  a  building  erected  for  another  purpose.  This  was  a 
block-house,  small,  and  rudely  built,  which  stood  where  this 
church  edifice  now  does,  and  was  erected  by  the  enemy,  after 
the  occupation  of  the  town  by  their  troops.  Here  the  vener- 
able Prentice  met  his  people,  and  with  his  characteristic  ardor, 
but  with  many  evidences  of  broken  strength,  again  preached 
to  them  the  word  of  life.  To  this  sacred  hill — the  first  spot 
cleared  by  the  hand  of  civilized  man,  when  all  around  were 
the  dark  waters  and  frowning  forests  of  a  wild,  uncultivated 
country — the  spot  from  which  the  voice  of  prayer  first  as- 
cended, and  where  the  Pilgrims'  '  hymn  of  lofty  cheer  first 
shook  the  desert's  gloom ; '  hither  again,  after  the  lapse  of  a 
hundred  and  fifty  years,  did  their  children  resort  to  worship 
the  God  of  their  fathers,  while  yonder  height  was  yet  fresh 
with  the  memorials  of  the  recent  fight,  and  black  desolation 
reigned  over  the  peninsula. 

I  have  received  from  aged  members  of  the  church,   who 
recollect  Mr.  Prentice  and  the  congregation  of  the  block-house, 


142 

several  interesting  anecdotes  illustrative  of  the  character  of  the 
pastor,  and  the  simple  habits  of  the  people.  They  tell  us  that 
Mr.  Prentice  was  an  energetic  speaker,  and  retained  his  warmth 
of  manner  to  the  last,  and  that  sometimes,  through  the  quick- 
ness of  his  motions,  his  wig,  in  those  days  a  principal  article 
of  dress,  would  be  displaced ;  and  on  such  occasions,  his 
daughter  noislessly  ascended  the  low  platform  upon  which  the 
sacred  desk  was  placed,  and  re-adjusted  his  head-dress  with  her 
hands.  On  one  occasion,  through  the  failure  of  his  memory, 
he  omitted,  for  two  successive  Sabbaths  previous  to  the  annual 
thanksgiving,  to  read  the  proclamation,  and  his  faithful  daughter 
stepped  into  the  aisle,  and  with  filial  obeisance,  reminded  him 
of  the  omission,  which  the  father  gratefully  acknowledged, 
but  his  attempts  to  perform  the  duty  were,  through  the  in- 
firmity of  age,  and  the  confusion  of  the  moment,  fruitless, 
and  he  was  relieved  by  the  profiered  assistance  of  one  of  the 
deacons — Dea.  Frothingham.  These  simple  incidents,  occur- 
ring as  they  did,  in  the  solemn  worship  of  God,  without 
disturbing  the  gravity  of  the  worshippers,  represent  the  minis- 
ter in  the  light  of  a  father  giving  instruction  to  his  family. 
We  are  told,  that  at  length,  through  the  utter  failure  of  his 
memory,  the  pastor  preached  the  same  sermon  over  again  in 
the  afternoon,  which  he  had  just  delivered  in  the  morning; 
and  this  is  said  to  have  been  the  last  Sabbath  of  his  public 
ministry.  He  fell  asleep  and  was  gathered  to  his  fathers,  on 
the  17th  of  June,  1782,  at  the  age  of  eighty.  He  was  honor- 
ably interred  in  the  burying-ground  hill,  at  the  expense  of  the 
town.^ 

About  this  period  of  time,  an  effort  was  made  to  rebuild  the 
meeting-house.  The  former  meeting-house,  it  will  be  remem- 
bered, stood  in  the  square ;  but  in  the  month  of  October, 
1782,  the  town  granted  to  the  parish  the  Town  hill,  for  the 
purpose  of  erecting  thereon  a  house  for  the  public  worship 
of  God,  on  condition  that  the  building  be  erected  within  the 
space  of  five  years.^  Accordingly,  the  requisite  exertions  were 
immediately  commenced,  and  as  the  people  were  unable  to  per- 
form the  work  without  assistance,  an  appeal  was  made  to  the 
surrounding  towns,  by  a  brief  from  the  legislature,  which  met 

1  Note  47.  «  Note  48. 


143 

with  a  generous  response  ;  and  in  1783,  a  meeting-house  was 
raised,  seventy-two  feet  long,  fifty-two  wide,  and  twenty-seven 
high,  to  the  eaves,  with  a  lofty  and  beautiful  steeple.  A  bell, 
1300  pounds  weight,  was  presented  by  Messrs.  Champion, 
Dickason  and  Burgis,  merchants  of  London,  through  the  inter- 
est of  Thpmas  Russell,  Esq.  ^  The  meeting-house  was  not 
finished  however  for  a  number  of  years. 

It  deserves  also  to  be  mentioned  here,  that  a  separation  took 
place  about  this  time,  between  the  town  and  parish  business. 
Previous  to  the  Revolution,  all  parish  matters  were  attended  to 
in  the  general  meetings  of  the  town  ;  but  subsequently  to  this, 
the  first  parish  was  organized  in  connection  with  this  church, 
and  succeeded  to  all  the  rights  and  duties  of  the  town,  in  refer- 
ence to  the  support  of  the  gospel.^ 

For  about  five  years  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Prentice,  the 
church  and  town  were  without  a  settled  pastor.  Public  wor- 
ship was,  notwithstanding,  maintained  for  the  greater  part  of 
the  time  ;  and  when  no  minister  could  be  obtained,  the  people 
crossed  the  ferry  and  joined  some  of  the  congregations  in  Bos- 
ton. The  church  and  parish  made  a  number  of  attempts  to 
obtain  a  minister,  but  without  success,  until  November,  1786, 
when  a  unanimous  call  was  extended  to  Mr.  Joshua  Paine,  Jr., 
who  accepted  it,  and  was  ordained  January  10,  1787.  This 
gentleman  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  Rev.  Joshua  Paine,  minis- 
ter of  the  church  in  Sturbridge,  in  Worcester  county.  He 
graduated  at  Harvard  College,  in  1784,  with  distinguished 
honor,  having  the  salutatory  oration  awarded  him — the  second 
honor  of  his  class.  He  died  in  the  twenty-fifth  year  of  his 
age,  on  the  27th  of  February,  1788,  having  been  pastor  of 
the  church  only  thirteen  and  a  half  months:  His  disease  was 
the  consumption,  which  he  contracted  by  stooping  over  a 
low  table,  upon  which  he  was  accustomed  to  write  in  his 
study.  He  is  represented  by  those  who  knew  him,  as  a  young 
man  of  decided  piety,  amiable  manners,  and  promising  talents 
as  a  preacher.  "His  sermons,"  say  our  church  records,  in 
narrating  the  circumstances  of  his  ordination  and  early  death, 
"  exhibited  the  piety  of  his  heart ;  and  the  exalted  and  social 

>  2  Mass.  H.  S.  Coll.  ii.  170.    Note  49.  2  Note  50. 


144 

virtues  of  his  mind  secured  the  esteem  and  friendship  of  all  his 
acquaintance,  and  presented  an  agreeable  prospect  of  his  useful- 
ness in  the  ministry.  He  was  sincerely  lamented  by  all  who 
knew  him,  and  especially  by  the  flock  committed  to  his  charge." 

But  I  can  in  no  way  bring  before  you  the  character  of  Mr. 
Paine  so  well,  as  by  quoting  from  the  conclusion  of  the  sermon 
preached  on  the  occasion  of  his  funeral,  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Thacher,  pastor  of  the  Brattle-street  church,  in  Boston.  The 
text  was  taken  from  Job  xiv.  19  :  "  Thou  destroyest  the  hope 
of  man."  '^ Never,"  says  the  preacher,  "was  the  declaration 
of  the  word  of  God  upon  which  we  have  been  meditating,  more 
strikingly  verified  than  it  is  this  day.  We  had  formed  the  most 
sanguine  hopes  of  the  future  eminence  and  usefulness  of  our 
friend.  We  rejoiced  in  the  union  and  harmony  Avhich  so 
remarkably  prevailed  in  this  place.  We  looked  forward  to  the 
temporal  and  spiritual  prosperity  of  this  town,  which  its  pastor 
appeared  so  well  calculated  to  promote.  We  anticipated  the 
day  when  his  praise  should  be  in  all  the  churches,  and  his  value 
should  be  knoAvn  universally  to  others,  as  it  was  then  to  his 
particular  connections ;  and  many  of  us  hoped  that,  instead  of 
being  called  to  perform  the  sad  offices  which  we  are  now  paying 
to  his  remains,  he  would  have  lived  to  perform  them  for  us  ! 

"  But  God  Almighty  hath  seen  it  best  to  disappoint  our 
expectations,  to  destroy  our  hopes,  and  to  show  us  that  we 
should  not  trust  in  princes,  nor  in  the  sons  of  men.  We  see  our 
friend  and  brother  cut  off"  in  the  morning  of  his  days  ;  we  are 
called  once  more  to  mourn  with  this  widowed-church,  and  we 
are  '  sorrowing  most  of  all  this  day,  that  we  shall  see  his  face  no 
more.' 

"  There  is  a  melancholy  satisfaction  in  beholding  the  pictures 
of  our  friends  when  they  are  taken  away  from  us ;  but  there  is 
not  only  a  satisfaction,  there  is  an  advantage  also  in  recollecting 
their  characters,  in  recalling  to  our  minds  their  good  properties, 
that  we  may  'follow  them  so  far  as  they  followed  Christ.' 
With  this  design,  and  by  no  means  with  the  intention  of  flatter- 
ing my  departed  friend,  (for  alas  !  his  ears  are  closed  in  eternal 
silence,  he  can  listen  no  more  to  the  voice  of  flattery  or  of 
friendship  ! )  you  will  permit  me  to  mention  some  leading  traits 
of  his  amiable  character. 


145 

"  There  is  no  gift  of  nature  which  tends  more  to  promote  a 
man's  happiness  and  nsefuhiess,  than  what  is  commonly  styled 
a  good  disposition.  If  a  person  possesses  this  disposition,  he 
will  conciliate  affection  and  disarm  resentment.  He  will  endear 
himself  to  his  friends  and  cause  his  enemies  to  be  at  peace  with 
him.  He  will  unite  varyhig  parties.  He  will  prevent  the  col- 
lisions which  stir  up  strife,  and  he  will  secure  universal  respect 
and  esteem. 

"  And  who,  my  brethren,  possessed  this  qualification  in  a 
greater  degree  than  the  friend  whom  we  this  day  lament  ? 
Kind,  amiable,  and  conciliating  ;  diffident  of  his  own  merit, 
and  ready  to  acknowledge  that  of  others  ;  warm  in  his  friend- 
ships, gentle  in  his  manners,  and  graceful  in  his  deportment,  he 
acquired  universal  esteem  and  rendered  himself  greatly  useful. 
Those  who  were  the  most  intimate  with  him,  esteemed  him 
the  most  highly ;  and  while  he  enjoyed  many  friends,  he  never 
had  an  enemy. 

"  This  amiableness  of  disposition,  and  gentleness  of  manners, 
will  not  render  a  man  respectable,  unless  he  is  favored  with  a 
good  natural  genius,  and  with  strong  powers  of  mind ;  and 
these  advantages  Mr.  Paine,  in  a  great  degree,  possessed.  His 
understanding  was  good  ;  his  judgment  was  cool,  and  his  mem- 
ory was  strong.  He  made  good  use  of  the  advantages  which 
an  education  of  the  most  liberal  kind  gave  him,  and  honored 
his  instructors,  while  he  adorned  the  university  to  which  he 
belonged. 

"  All  these  talents,  all  these  advantages,  he  devoted  to  the 
service  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  the  ministry  of  the  gospel. 
And  in  this  important  calling,  it  pleased  God  to  render  him  very 
useful,  for  the  little  time  which  he  was  spared  to  us.  With 
the  modesty  which  becomes  a  young  man,  he  pretended  not  to 
decide  upon  subjects  of  polemical  divinity  ;  but  with  the  integ- 
rity which  is  indispensable  from  the  character  of  a  good  minis- 
ter, he  preached  '  Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified.'  ^  Having 
separated  himself,  he  sought  and  intermeddled  with  all  wis- 
dom ; '  and  while  he  gave  to  other  considerations  their  due 
weight,  he  fixed  his  principles  'on  the  foundation  of  the 
apostles  and  prophets,  Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the  chief 
corner-stone.'  His  sermons  were  evangelical,  judicious  and 
practical,  and  his  prayers  breathed  the  spirit  of  true  and  genuine 
]9 


146 

devotion.  In  his  pastoral  office,  he  naturally  cared  for  the  state 
of  his  flock,  and  discovered  the  most  earnest  desires  to  promote 
their  best  interests,  for  time  and  eternity.  He  rejoiced  in  their 
joy — he  mourned  in  their  sorrow,  and  he  took  pains  to  know 
their  situation,  '  visiting  them  from  house  to  house.' 

"■  Bat  piety,  true  piety,  deeply  rooted  in  the  heart,  and  acted 
out  in  the  life,  formed  the  brightest  part  of  this  good  man's 
character;  but  his  piety  was  not  glaring  and  ostentatious;  it 
proclaimed  not  itself  at  the  corners  of  the  streets ;  but  at  the 
same  time,  it  scorned  to  hide  itself  when  it  was  proper  for  it  to 
appear.  It  burnt  with  a  pure  and  a  steady  flame,  and  others, 
'beholding  it,  have  glorified  their  Father,  who  is  in  heaven.' 

"A  man  of  this  character  could  not  be  inattentive  to  relative 
duties.  He  must  have  been  dutiful  as  a  son,  affectionate  as  a 
brother,  agreeable  as  a  companion,  and  faithful  as  a  friend. 
That  Mr.  Paine  deserved  all  these  epithets,  the  tears  of  those  to 
whom  he  sustained  these  relations,  are  an  ample  testimony. 

"  It  was  this  piety  which  supported  him  with  such  exemplary 
patience,  through  a  long  and  painful  sickness.  It  was  his  hope 
in  the  gospel,  his  reliance  on  the  perfect  righteousness  of  the 
Son  of  God,  which  gilded  to  him  the  dark  valley  of  the  shadow 
of  death  !  which  enabled  him  to  exclaim,  in  the  moment  when 
the  taper  of  life  was  quivering  in  the  socket,  and  the  agonies  of 
dissolving  nature  racked  his  whole  frame,  '  O  death,  where  is 
thy  sting  ?  O  grave,  where  is  thy  victory  ?  The  sting  of  death 
is  sin,  and  the  strength  of  sin  is  the  law,  but  thanks  be  to  God 
who  giveth  me  the  victory,  through  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ ! ' 
It  was  this  hope,  this  assurance  of  his  interest  in  the  great 
atonement,  which  enabled  him  so  frequently  to  say  in  the  awful 
hour  of  death,  '  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly  !  why  are  thy 
chariot  wheels  so  long  in  coming  ? '  and  it  was  his  firm  faith 
in  our  divine  and  glorious  Redeemer,  which  induced  him  to 
expire  with  the  prayer  of  the  martyr  Stephen,  '  Lord  Jesus,  into 
thine  hand  I  commit  my  spirit,'  quivering  on  his  lips !  Come, 
my  brethren,  '  see  how  a  Christian  can  die  ! '  see  the  triumphs 
of  true  religion  over  the  most  formidable  enemies  which  are 
known  to  mankind !  '  Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold  the 
upright,  for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace  ! '  *     It  is  but  a  short 

*"  Mr.  Paine's  modesty  and  unostentatious  disposition  did  not  suffer  him  to  say  much  dur- 


147 

time,  my  brethren  of  this  church  and  congregation,  since  we 
rejoiced  with  you  at  the  introduction  of  this  our  beloved  brother 
to  the  work  of  the  mniistry  among  you.  At  this  moment,  I 
recollect  the  exultation  of  that  day,  and  the  bright  and  agreea- 
ble prospects  which  were  before  our  eyes  !  Your  union,  your 
spiritual  advantage,  and  the  prosperity  of  this  town,  newly 
rising  from  its  ashes,  were  prospects  not  too  flattering  for  us 
rationally  to  indulge." 

Thus  suddenly  and  mournfully  were  the  prospects  of  our 
church  cut  off,  just  as  the  people  were  beginning  to  fancy  them- 
selves secure  once  more  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  religious 
privileges.  And  when  this  bereavement  is  taken  in  connection 
with  the  external  condition  of  the  town  at  that  time,  it  will 
appear  the  more  severe.  The  people  were  few  in  number,  and 
limited  in  pecuniary  means.  In  the  year  1785,  the  houses  and 
inhabitants  of  the  town  were  numbered,  and  the  buildings  on 
the  peninsula,  many  of  which  were  temporary  and  soon  taken 
down,  were  found  to  be  151,  and  the  population  550.  The 
buildings  without  the  neck,  were  128,  and  the  population  449.^ 

Mr.  Paine  was  the  last  of  a  long  series  of  pastors  who  died 
in  the  ministry  of  this  church,  and  were  interred  in  this  town. 
For  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  an  unbroken  line  of 
ministers,  whose  united  ministry  amounts  to  two  hundred  and 
seventeen  years,  died,  as  they  had  lived,  in  the  pastoral  office, 
and  laid  down  their  bones  with  those  of  their  people.  The 
ashes  of  Symmes,  Harvard,  the  Shepards — father  and  son,  Mor- 
ton, Bradstreet,  Stevens,  Abbot,  Prentice  and  Paine,  all  now  rest, 


inghis  illness.  He  contenled  himself  with  discovering  a  savor  of  religion  upon  his  spirit,  and 
expressing  his  submission  to  the  will  of  heaven.  But  on  the  last  night  of  bis  life,  in  which  he 
was  attended  by  his  reverend  father  and  another  Christian  friend,  he  appeared  to  give  more 
indulgence  to  his  feelings  and  to  express  more  plainly  the  triumplis  of  his  holy  soul.  In  the 
agonies  of  death,  he  not  only  used  the  expressions  above  recited,  but  exclaimed  wiih  a  smile, 
'  O  my  Jesus,  why  may  I  not  come  to  thee  ?  Is  not  my  Saviour  ready  for  me  ?  '  but  at  the 
same  time  expressed  his  desire  and  determination  to  be  patient  and  to  wait  God's  time.  He 
kept  calling  upon  his  father  to  pray  with  him  and  to  give  him  up  solemnly  to  God,  whicJi  was 
repeatedly  done;  and  in  these  solemn  offices  of  religion  he  expressed  the  greatest  satisfac- 
tion. He  appeared  to  have  a  very  quick  sensibility  of  his  pains  and  distresses,  for  he  said, 
'This  is  hard  work,  but  this  is  nothing  to  what  Jesus  underwent  for  me  and  my  sins!' 
When,  through  extreme  weakness,  his  sight  failed  him,  he  called  for  a  candle,  but  perceiving 
this  failure  was  a  symptom  of  immediate  death,  he  exclaimed,  '  I  am  just  going!  Farewell, 
all  my  friends.  Farewell  all  this  world!'  and  then  expired  with  the  expression  above 
related,  in  his  mouth.  There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  exact  truth  of  this  account ;  it  was  given 
me  by  a  person  of  unquestionable  veracity  who  was  present,  and  I  thought  it  proper  to  pub- 
lish it,  to  the  honor  of  free  grace,  and  for  the  support  of  those  saints  who,  '  through  fear  of 
death,  are  all  their  life  time  subject  to  bondage.'  Pious  and  humble  Christians  often  triumph 
the  most  sensibly  in  their  last  moments,  and  God  causes  their  setting  sun  to  shine  wiih  merid- 
ian brightness.  '  May  we  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  may  our  latter  end  be  like  his.'  ** 
1  2  Hist.  CoU.  u.  169. 


148 

with  the  thousands  to  whom  they  ministered,  in  yonder  bmying- 
gromid.  But,  what  is  certainly  a  remarkable  circumstance,  you 
will  not  find  a  single  memorial  to  designate  the  spot  where  their 
once  loved  and  honored  remains  are  deposited.  Some  of  them 
were  laid  in  the  ministers'  tomb,  and  this  you  may  distinguish 
by  reading  upon  it  the  name  of  Captain  Richard  Sprague — that 
most  munificent  benefactor  of  this  church — who  left  his  house 
for  the  ministers  to  reside  in  while  they  lived,  and  his  tomb  that 
they  might  lie  with  him  when  they  died.  Where  the  remainder 
were  interred,  we  may  conjecture,  but  cannot  know  ;  their 
sepulchres  are  indeed  with  us  unto  this  day  ;  but  we  shall  strain 
our  eyes  in  vain  to  decypher  the  inscriptions  they  bore — the 
flood  of  years  that  has  swept  over  them  has  worn  them  nearly 
smooth.  Surely,  their  memories  ought  not  to  be  suffered  to 
perish  on  the  soil,  which  in  life  they  honored  and  blest ;  and 
it  afi'ords  me  pleasure  to  witness  the  cordial  manner  in  which 
the  proposition  has  been  received,  to  place  a  tablet  in  the  walls 
of  our  church,  upon  which  their  names  shall  be  graven,  to 
remind  us  and  those  who  come  after  us,  of  their  virtues  and 
their  services.^ 

In  leaving  behind  us  these  venerated  men,  and  the  times  in 
which  they  lived,  and  advancing  to  what  remains  of  our  history, 
we  leave  behind  the  historic  part,  and  come,  almost  immedi- 
ately, into  the  present — agitated  with  exciting  controversies 
that  have  not  yet  subsided.  Hitherto  the  children  of  the  Puri- 
tans had  been  of  one  faith  and  communion ;  they  had  walked 
to  the  house  of  God  in  company — they  had  taken  sweet  counsel 
together  in  the  social  interchanges  of  a  community  as  closely 
cemented,  and  homogeneous,  as  any  upon  earth.  The  times 
were  now  coming  for  suspicions,  heart-burnings,  and  angry 
discussions,  which  resulted  in  the  running  of  division-lines 
through  communities,  churches  and  families.  The  faith  which 
bore  our  Fathers  over  the  waters,  for  which  they  braved  the 
horrors  of  the  wilderness  and  of  savage  warfare,  which  ulti- 
mately prepared  them  for,  and  made  them  worthy  of  the  largest 
freedom  any  people  ever  enjoyed, — this  faith  was  brought  into 
discussion  ;  at  first,  it  was  secretly  suspected,  then  indirectly 
attacked,  and  at  last,  publicly  renounced.     Of  course,  I  shall  not 

>  Note  51. 


149 

enter  into  the  merits  of  this  controversy ;  but  the  part  taken  by 
this  church  makes  it  not  only  proper,  but  necessary  that  I 
should  mention  the  principal  facts  which  occasioned  and  ex- 
plained the  division  of  the  Congregational  churches  in  Boston 
and  Eastern  New  En2;land  into  two  distinct  communions. 


LECTURE     IX. 


ECCLESIASTES     vii.      10. 

Say  not  thou,  what  is  the  cause  that  the  former  days  were  better  than 
these?    for  thou  dost  not  inquire  wisely  concerning  this. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Paine,  the  church  was  without  a 
pastor  for  about  fourteen  months.  In  the  month  of  November, 
however,  a  unanimous  call  was  extended  to  the  Rev.  Jedidiah 
Morse  ;  and  his  installation  ^  as  pastor  of  the  chuch  took  place 
April  30,  1789.  The  sermon,  appropriate  to  the  occasion,  was 
preached  by  the  Rev.  Jeremy  Belknap,  D.  D.,  of  the  Federal- 
street  church,  Boston  ;  the  charge  was  given  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Jackson,  of  Brookline,  and  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Osgood,  of  Medford. 

Of  this  gentleman's  personal  history  and  character,  it  does 
not  enter  into  my  plan  to  say  much.  He  occupied  a  large  space 
both  in  the  literary  and  theological  world,  and  to  present  a  full 
account  of  his  varied  labors  and  multiplied  services,  would  far 
transgress  my  limits.  As  I  intimated  in  the  conclusion  of  the 
last  Lecture,  the  administration  of  Dr.  Morse  was  destined  to  be 
one  of  general  agitation  and  severe  trial.  At  the  period  of  his 
settlement,  and  for  some  time  after,  although  there  was  not 
entire  unanimity  of  religious  sentiment,  there  was  no  other 
house  of  public  worship  in  the  town  than  that  in  which  he 
ministered.  Our  present  religious  divisions  do  not  date  back 
beyond  the  beginning  of  this  century.  The  Baptists  erected 
their  house  of  worship  in  1800  ;  and  the  Universalists  in  1810. 
But  it  was  not  until  1817,  that  the  Congregationalists  were 
divided  ;  in  this  year,  several  members  of  this  church  were  dis- 
missed for  the  purpose  of  joining  with  others  in  the  formation 

I  Note  52. 


151 

of  a  church  in  a  Second  Congregational  society. ^  This  society, 
though  Congregational  in  order,  was  Unitarian  in  faith,  and 
originated  in  a  controversy  which  began  in  1815,  and  resulted 
in  separating  our  church  into  two  distinct  communions. 

Dr.  Morse  was  prominently,  if  not  principally  engaged  in 
this  controversy,  and  in  effecting  a  separation,  by  the  suspen- 
sion of  exchanges  with  those  clergymen,  Avho  embraced  the 
tenets  of  Unitarianism.  It  is  incumbent  upon  me,  therefore,  to 
give  some  account  of  this  great  event ;  and  I  shall  endeavor  to 
do  it  in  the  spirit  of  a  Christian,  and  not  of  a  partizan,  by  pre- 
senting the  facts  in  the  case  as  I  have  been  able  to  obtain  them 
from  authorities  on  each  side  of  the  question. 

It  will  be  unnecessary  to  recapitulate  any  of  the  facts  already 
mentioned,  for  the  purpose  of  showing  what  the  original  faith 
of  the  churches  of  New  England  was,  or  that  they  were  united 
in  that  faith.  As  early  as  1648,  our  fathers  gave  in  their 
unanimous  adherence  to  the  Westminster  Confession  ;  this  they 
did,  as  they  say,  that  they  might  express  their  belief  and  pro- 
fession of  "the  same  doctrines  which  had  been  generally  re- 
ceived in  all  the  reformed  chorches  in  Europe."  And  in  1680, 
the  churches  of  the  Commonwealth  drew  up  a  confession  of 
faith,  affirming  the  same  doctrines  and  using  nearly  the  same 
words  as  the  Westminster.  This  is  the  authorized  faith  of 
the  Congregational  churches — the  only  faith  which  has  ever 
been  professed  by  the  churches  assembled  by  their  pastors 
and  representatives  in  synod  or  council.  And  this  has  been 
not  only  the  publicly  professed  faith  of  our  churches,  but  it  /t 
has  been  the  real  or  implied  faith  of  every  church  calling  itself 
Congregational.  No  doctrine  has  been  taught  in  our  pulpits 
contrary  to  our  received  standards,  until  within  thirty  years 
past ;  previously  to  this,  our  churches  were  in  outward  fellow- 
ship ;  and  disbelief,  if  entertained,  was  privately  expressed. 
But  as  at  the  time  of  the  division,  a  large  number  of  our 
churches,  together  with  the  university,  were  found  prepared 
to  reject  the  cardinal  doctrines  of  the  orthodox  faith,  it  is  ap- 
parent that  these  doctrines  had  been  a  long  time  discussed  and 
secretly  rejected  by  many  in  the  bosom  of  our  churches.  The 
history  of  this  change,  inasmuch  as  it  was  covered,  and  had 
but  few    outward   events  to  mark  it,   cannot  be  traced   and 

I  Note  63. 


^. 


152 

developed  to  the  satisfaction  of  every  inquirer.  If  the  causes 
of  this  defection  are  sought  for,  some  of  them  may  be  dis- 
covered far  back  in  our  earhest  history ;  the  first  may  be  found 
in   the    union  of  church  and  state — a  union  of  all  the  most 

^'  unnatural,  but  in  the  time  of  our  fathers,  every  where  estab- 
lished, and  supposed  by  all  to  be  fit  and  necessary.  From  this 
union  the  church  has  always  suffered  more  than  the  state.  It 
has  been  injurious  to  the  state,  but  destructive  to  the  church. 
It  increased  the  power  of  the  civil  rulers,  but  deprived  a 
portion  of  the  people  of  their  just  rights,  and  by  converting 
the  church  into  an  engine  of  the  state,  it  deprived  her  of  her 
great  ornament — the  spirituality  of  her  ministry  and  people. 
The  principal  tie  which  connected  the  church  with  the  state  in 

l^  the  days  of  our  fathers,  was  the  law  which  confined  the  right 
of  suffrage  to  members  of  the  church.  This,  as  I  have  already 
mentioned,  led  the  way  to  the  adoption  of  the  half-way  cove- 
nant ;  and  so  eventually  neither  membership  in  the  church,  nor 
even  admission  to  the  ministry,  became  evidence  of  an  experi- 
mental persuasion  of  the  doctrines  professed  and  taught  among  us. 
The  great  religious  excitement  which  preceded  and  followed 
the  visits  of  Whitefield,  created  a  difference  of  feeling  rather 
than  of  doctrine  among  the  clergy  ;  it  showed  chiefly  the  differ- 

f'  ent  tendencies  then  in  the  church  ;  and  it  was  not  before  the 
second  or  third  generation,  that  this  difference  of  sympathy 
resulted  in  a  different  system  of  faith.  We  have  evidence 
that  in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century,  a  few  both  among 
the  clergy  and  laity,  rejected  the  doctrine  of  the  divinity  of 
the  Saviour,  so  that  about  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century,  Arianism  prevailed  quite  extensively  in  Boston  and 
its  vicinity.  The  denial  of  the  supreme  divinity  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  was  the  first,  and  for  a  long  time  the  only  point 
of  departure  from  orthodoxy.  Those  who  had  taken  this  step, 
held  that  Christ  was  not  equal  to  the  Father,  but  that  he  was 
a  created  being,  and  yet  inconceivably  greater  than  any  other 
created  being,  so  that  he  might  be  made  even  the  object  of  wor- 
ship. They  who  held  this  doctrine  respecting  the  person  of 
Christ,  generally  held  to  all  the  other  doctrines  of  orthodoxy. 
But  this  stage  of  religious  declension  was  not  of  long  continu- 
ance ;  it  prepared  the  way  for  a  more  general  skepticism,  and 
more  vital  departures.     The  tendency  of  this  mode  of  specu- 


153 

lation  was  towards  the  doctrine  of  the  simple  humanity  of 
Christ,  and  the  utter  aboUtion  of  the  peculiar  and  mysterious 
doctrines  of  redemption.  At  length  it  came  to  be  generally 
understood,  that  not  a  few  of  our  most  honored  pastors  and 
churches  were  departing  rapidly  and  widely  from  the  faith  of 
the  Fathers.  But  notwithstanding  the  currency  and  positive- 
ness  of  these  rumors,  the  certainty  of  the  facts  could  not  be 
ascertained.  No  tangible  and  outward  evidence  of  them  was 
afforded  ;  nor  could  those  who  had  departed  the  farthest  from 
the  doctrines  of  our  confession  and  catechism,  be  distinguished, 
except  by  their  studied  silence ;  they  did  not  preach  these 
doctrines,  nor  yet  did  they  preach  against  them.  The  prevail- 
ing sentiment  among  those  who  had  adopted  the  new  opin- 
ions, was,  that  opinions  Avere  comparatively  unimportant,  and 
that  Christian  liberality  required  us  not  to  insist  upon  unity  of 
faith,  or  the  belief  of  doctrines  as  essential  to  Christianity. 
Accordingly,  these  brethren  were  accustomed  to  admit  mem- 
bers to  their  churches  without  asking  their  assent  to  any  creed 
or  confession ;  and  they  resolutely  ojDposed  the  examination  of 
candidates  for  the  ministry,  or  for  ordination,  or  for  the  chair 
of  the  professorship  of  divinity  at  Cambridge,  on  those  points, 
which  are  now,  as  they  ever  have  been,  considered  essential  to  ^ 
the  Christian  faith.  Hence,  the  principal  subjects  of  discussion 
in  those  days,  were  not  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  but  the 
propriety  of  creeds  and  subscriptions,  and  the  importance  of 
doctrinal  belief.  Hence,  too,  it  became  impossible  to  know 
what  the  degree  and  nature  of  the  unbelief  existing  in  our 
chiu-ches  was  ;  it  was  known  only  that  among  those  who  were 
opposed  to  creeds  and  confessions,  great  diversity  of  religious 
belief  obtained.  Hence,  too,  will  be  perceived  the  difficulty  of 
writing  the  history  of  this  change ;  it  transpired  under  cover 
of  opposition  to  creeds,  and  by  maintenance  of  the  sentiment 
that  doctrinal  belief  is  not  an  essential  part  or  condition  of 
Christian  character.  This  account  of  the  state  of  our  churches 
is  one,  I  believe,  in  which  both  parties  are  agreed ;  it  corres- 
ponds with  the  representations  of  each. 

Affairs  were  in  this  posture  when  memoirs  of  Rev.  Theophi- 

lus  Lindsey  were  published  in  London,  from  the  pen  of  the 

Rev.  Thomas  Belsham,  minister  of  a  Unitarian  church  in  that 

city,  who  devoted  a  chapter  of  his  work  to  the  subject  of 

20 


154 

Unitarianism  in  this  country,  disclosing  facts  which  had  been 
made  known  to  him  in  a  private  correspondence.  Dr.  Morse 
caused  this  chapter  to  be  pubHshed  in  a  pamphlet  form,  under 
the  title  of  ''  American  Unitarianism  ;  or,  a  brief  History  of  the 
progress  and  present  state  of  the  Unitarian  Churches  in  America, 
compiled  from  documents  and  information  communicated  by 
the  Rev.  James  Freeman,  D.  D.,  and  William  Wells,  Jr.,  Esq.^ 
of  Boston,  and  from  other  Unitarian  gentlemen  in  this  country." 
This  pamphlet  passed  through  several  editions,  and  awakened 
general  inquiry.  It  narrated  the  circumstances  in  which  the 
first  Episcopal  church  in  Boston,  then  called  King's  chapel, 
became  Unitarian,  by  expunging  from  their  liturgy,  under  the 
influence  of  their  pastor.  Dr.  Freeman,  all  recognitions  of  the 
Trinity  and  atonement ;  this  event  took  place  in  1785,  and 
made  this  the  first  Unitarian  church  in  the  country.  The  works 
of  Dr.  Priestley  were  also  introduced  among  us,  by  Dr.  Free- 
man, and  placed  in  the  library  of  Harvard  College,  and  in  other 
libraries,  by  which  means,  as  well  as  by  private  circulation, 
they  were  read  very  extensively.  In  consequence  of  these,  and 
similar  eff'orts,  at  a  time  when  there  was  but  one  church  where 
Unitarianism  was  publicly  professed  and  taught,  its  tenets  had 
spread  very  extensively  ;  and  in  regard  to  Boston,  in  particular, 
most  of  the  clergy  and  respectable  laymen  were  Unitarian.  In 
view  of  these  facts  communicated  in  the  private  letters  men- 
tioned above,  Mr.  Belsham  says  near  the  end  of  his  chapter : 
"  Being  myself  a  friend  to  ingenuousness  and  candor,  I  could 
wish  to  see  all  who  are  truly  Unitarians,  openly  such,  and  to 
teach  the  doctrine  of  the  simple  indivisible  unity  of  God,  as 
well  as  to  practice  the  rites  of  Unitarian  worship." 

The  publication  of  this  pamphlet,  was  followed  by  a  review 
of  it  in  the  Panoplist,  attributed  to  the  pen  of  Dr.  Morse.  The 
question  was  pressed  with  great  earnestness,  whether  these 
statements  were  correct ;  and  charges  of  duplicity  and  dishon- 
orable concealment  began  to  be  made  with  great  bitterness. 
This  drew  forth  the  controversy  between  Dr.  Channing  and  Dr. 
Worcester ;  and  when  this,  together  with  the  others  occasioned 
by  it,  subsided,  the  churches  and  ministers  were  prepared  to 
take  their  stand  either  as  Unitarian  or  Orthodox.  All  the 
ancient  churches  of  Boston  were  ranged  among  the  advocates 
of  the  new  opinions,  Avith  the  exception  of  the  Old  South.     All 


155 

the  superiors  in  age,  and  all  the  cotemporaries  of  our  own 
church,  left  her  to  stand  alone  upon  the  foundation  of  the 
Fathers  ;  and  the  church  of  Robinson  in  Plymouth,  of  Hig- 
ginson  in  Salem,  of  Cotton  in  Boston — all  have  renounced  the 
system  of  faith  in  which  they  were  baptized,  and  for  which 
they  were  nurtured  by  their  pious  founders. 

In  this  manner  were  the  sacred  ties  of  Christian  fellowship 
between  sister  churches  severed ;  and  I  envy  not  that  man's 
heart  who  can  contemplate  the  separation  without  feelings  of 
peculiar  sadness.  We  do  not  indeed  deplore  the  separation,  as 
distinct  from  the  circumstances  which  led  to,  and  made  it 
necessary.  On  the  contrary,  since  such  fundamental  differen- 
ces actually  existed,  it  was  better  that  a  separation  should  take 
place.  It  was  better  for  those  who  no  longer  held  to  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Congregational  standards,  to  declare  openly  their 
dissent,  and  advocate  boldly  their  real  sentiments ;  and  it  was 
better  for  those  who  still  maintained  the  original  faith  of  New 
England,  to  know  with  whom  they  were  associated.  Each,  in 
a  separate  organization,  was  able  to  act  more  consistently  and 
effectively  than  when  bomid  together.  And  the  ease  with 
which  this  separation  was  effected,  we  quote  as  a  happy  exhibi- 
tion of  the  excellence  of  Congregationalism  as  a  system  of 
church  polity.  Never  was  a  branch  of  the  church  of  Christ 
more  severely  tried,  than  was  ours  in  this  controversy  and 
defection ;  and  never  did  any  church  pass  through  such  trials 
so  happily.  True,  if  we  had  had  a  hierarchy  like  that  of  the 
English  or  Roman  church  over  us — if  we  had  had  a  liturgy 
chained  to  the  pulpit,  it  might  have  been  more  difficult,  if  not 
impossible  to  change  our  creed  or  profession.  But  these  things 
never  could  have  preserved  the  minds  of  the  people  or  clergy 
from  the  incursions  of  unbelief  and  heresy;  and  we  say,  what 
every  person  will  be  forced  to  admit  upon  reflection,  that  it  is 
better,  where  religious  differences  exist,  that  they  should  be 
avowed — it  is  better  that  men  should  express  their  real  convic- 
tions, rather  than  conceal  them  and  dishonor  them  by  the  heart- 
less profession  of  different  sentiments.  Hence,  we  regard  it  as 
no  defect,  but  a  peculiar  excellence  of  Congregationalism,  that 
it  affords  facilities  for  each  church  to  manifest  its  inward  life, 
and  make  its  creed  and  its  practice  at  once  conform  to  its  actual 
belief.     We  say,  therefore,  with  truth  and  soberness,  that  we 


V. 


156 

love  Congregationalism  the  more  for  the  trial  she  has  passed 
through.  They  who  have  gone  out  from  us,  have  gone  out 
with  a  consistency  of  character  which  they  could  neither  have 
possessed  nor  maintained  so  long  as  they  remained  under  a 
banner  they  did  not  honor  and  love  ;  and  we  who  remain, 
can  remain  only  while  our  principles  are  living  verities  in  our 
hearts. 

It  has  been  in  time  past  customary  with  some  to  denounce 
those  ministers  who  refused  to  exchange  pulpits  with  their 
seceding  brethren,  and  charge  them  with  illiberality  and  all 
uncharitableness.  Subsequent  events,  we  are  most  happy  to 
believe,  have  put  an  end  to  this  unjust  imputation.  He  who 
dispassionately  considers  the  differences  subsisting  between 
Orthodoxy  and  Unitarianism,  cannot  fail  to  perceive  and  allow 
that  it  is  due  to  consistency  and  to  the  holy  cause  of  truth,  for 
the  advocate  of  the  first  system  to  protest  against  and  refuse 
communion  with  the  last.  To  expect  any  thing  less  than 
this,  is  the  height  of  illiberality ;  it  is  to  ask  one  to  lay  him- 
self on  the  ground,  and  as  the  street  for  his  opponent  to  pass 
over — to  renounce  self  respect,  to  prove  a  traitor  to  the  cause  of 
his  God,  and  the  highest  interests  of  his  race,  as  they  commend 
themselves  to  his  understanding  and  heart.  There  are  some 
principles  which  all  must  admit  are  essential  to  Christianity. 
Our  Fathers,  in  accordance  with  the  prevailing  sentiment  of  the 
church  in  all  ages,  placed  the  doctrine  of  the  divinity  of  Christ 
foremost  among  the  essentials  of  revelation.  It  was,  therefore, 
but  a  necessary  part  of  their  belief  to  refuse  fellowship  with 
those  who  rejected  this  truth.  And  in  this  they  acted  not  only 
upon  a  proper,  but  upon  a  necessary  principle.  No  man  can 
have  a  serious  faith  in  Christianity,  without  embracing  certain 
essential  ideas  involved  in  it ;  and  no  man  can  do  this  without 
refusing  his  fellowship  to  systems  which  exclude  and  oppose 
these  ideas.  We  honor,  therefore,  those  men  who  bore  a  full 
and  unwavering  protest  against  what  they  regarded  as  an  essen- 
tial departure  from  Christian  truth.  We  honor  them  for  consis- 
tency, for  their  fidelity  to  the  cause  of  truth,  to  themselves  and 
to  us. 

In  presenting  the  history  of  this  church,  we  are  happily 
relieved  from  the  necessity  of  mentioning  the  worst  part  of  the 
controversy,  which  resulted  in  a  division  of  our  denomination ; 


157 

we  refer  to  the  question  of  the  right  of  property,  and  those 
decisions  of  the  courts,  whicli  in  so  many  instances  have  de- 
prived our  churches  of  funds  bequeathed  to  them  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  gospel,  and  driven  them  forth  from  their  houses 
of  worship,  and  from  communion  tables,  spread  with  sacra- 
mental furniture,  the  gifts  of  their  venerated  fathers  and 
mothers,  and  dear  to  them  as  memorials  of  ancestral  piety. 
Happily  for  the  peace  and  honor  of  this  community,  this  ques- 
tion was  never  agitated  among  us.  Those  who  dissented  from 
the  faith  of  the  fathers,  and  embraced  the  new  opinions,  quietly 
retired  from  our  communion,  and  built  on  new  foundations.  In 
adopting  the  course  so  obviously  marked  out  by  honor  and 
integrity,  they  commended  the  cause  they  had  espoused,  by  a 
becoming  confidence  in  its  independent  power,  and  had  the 
proud  consciousness  of  knowing  that  the  success  which  attended 
them  under  able  ministrations,  was  all  appropriately  their  own, 
and  could  not  awaken  the  reproaches,  however  much  it  might 
the  sorrow  of  the  brethren  whose  communion  they  had  left. 
It  deserves  to  be  considered,  whether  facts  do  not  prove,  that 
endowments  perverted  to  purposes  different  from  those  for 
which  they  were  originally  given,  are  of  no  advantage  to  such 
a  cause,  but  rather  a  mill-stone  to  weigh  down  and  sink  it. 

The  relation  of  Dr.  Morse  to  this  church,  did  not  continue 
long  after  the  close  of  this  controversy.  The  multiplicity  of 
his  literary  engagements,  and  particularly  the  attention  bestowed 
upon  his  geographical  works,  rendered  him  unable  to  perform 
the  amount  of  labor  which  his  place  and  the  people  required. 
Besides  this,  no  man  could  pass  through  such  a  controversy  as 
that,  in  which  Dr.  Morse  was  so  prominently  concerned,  without 
making  his  happiness  and  usefulness  in  no  small  measure  a 
sacrifice.  In  reference  to  these  subjects.  Dr.  Morse  remarked 
on  the  last  Sabbath  of  his  ministry — "  Amidst  the  pressing  calls 
for  services  without,  which  the  peculiar  state  of  the  church  and 
the  world  at  large  has  seemed  to  me  to  require — the  necessity  I 
have  been  under  to  labor  for  a  part  of  my  own  support,  and  the 
duties  I  owed  to  my  flock ;  in  such  a  state  of  things,  I  have 
endeavored  with  all  the  wisdom  I  could  command,  to  select  the 
things  (for  all  that  was  to  be  done  I  could  not  do)  which  seemed 
to  me  to  demand  my  first  attention,  and  to  do  them.  If  I  have 
erred  in  making  this  selection,  (which  I  have  often  found 


158 

extremely  perplexing)  the  error  is  of  the  head,  and  not  of  the 
heart.  I  have  done  what  I  could  in  the  station  in  which  the 
Head  of  the  church  has  placed  me.  With  him  is  my  judg- 
ment." ^ 

Dr.  Morse  ^  resigned  the  pastorship  in  the  month  of  August, 
1819 — his  resignation  being  referred  to  the  council  which  should 
be  convened  to  ordain  his  successor.  He  was  succeeded  by 
the  Rev.  Warren  Fay,  whose  installation  took  place  February 
23,  1820,  and  his  ministry  continued  until  August  16,  1839. 
The  present  pastor  was  ordained  April  22,  1840  ;  and  here  he 
might  cease  his  labors  in  reference  to  the  past  history  of  the 
church.  It  should  be  mentioned,  however,  that  the  house  of 
worship  in  which  we  are  now  assembled — the  fifth  erected 
for  the  accommodation  of  this  church,  was  built  in  the  year 
1834,  and  dedicated  July  3,  of  that  year.^ 

Before  bringing  this  course  of  Lectures  to  a  close,  it  was  my 
intention  to  have  devoted  some  space  and  time  to  the  memory  of 
our  numerous  and  exemplary  benefactors.  It  has  been  to  me  a 
pleasing  and  edifying  task  to  examine  the  wills  of  the  early  mem- 
bers and  devoted  friends  of  our  church,  preserved  in  the  public 
offices.  They  almost  uniformly  begin  them  with  a  recapitu- 
lation of  the  great  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  and  the  grounds  of 
their  hope  for  eternity,  and  then  resigning  their  souls  to  God 
through  Jesus  Christ,  according  to  the  terms  of  the  covenant, 
and  their  bodies  to  the  grave  in  the  hope  of  a  glorious  resur- 
rection, they  proceed  to  distribute  their  worldly  possessions 
among  their  relatives  and  friends.  And  in  this  distribution, 
they  were  accustomed  with  great  uniformity,  to  remember 
their  Christian  teachers  and  brethren,  the  church,  and  the 
poor  of  the  town ;  thus  evincing  in  the  simplicity  of  their 
primitive  piety,  that  theirs  was  His  spirit,  who  "  stretched  forth 
his  hand  toward  his  disciples  and  said,  Behold  my  mother  and 
my  brethren  !  For  whosoever  shall  do  the  will  of  my  Father 
which  is  in  heaven,  the  same  is  my  brother,  and  sister,  and 
mother  !  "  It  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  present  a  complete 
list  of  all  these  benefactors.     If  you  will  read  the  inscriptions 

>  Church  Book  U.  171.  2  Note  54.  »  Note  55. 


159 

upon  our  communion  plate, ^  you  will  see,  first  of  all,  the  name 
of  our  generous  friend,  Richard  Sprague,  Esq.,  who,  besides 
other  munificent  gifts,  bequeathed  to  the  church  several  large 
silver  tankards  and  flagons  for  sacramental  use.  You  will  also 
see  the  name  of  Mary  Lemmon,  as  the  donor  of  a  silver  flagon ; 
she  was  admitted  to  the  church  in  1701.  One  tankard  was  the 
gift  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Smith,  in  1717;  another  of  Mrs.  Abigail 
Stevens,  in  1763  ;  another  of  Capt.  John  Miller,  in  1793.  And 
still  another  bears  the  initials  of  "  R.  R.  to  C.  C." — probably 
Richard  Russell,  Esq.,  to  the  church  in  Charlestown.  He  died 
in  1676,  and  was  the  ancestor  of  a  long  and  honored  line,  who 
have  in  every  generation  been  benefactors  to  this  church.  The 
name  of  one  of  his  descendants,  that  of  Hon.  Thomas  Russell, 
the  most  distinguished  merchant  of  his  day,  in  Boston,  is 
inscribed  as  that  of  donor  on  the  face  of  yonder  clock.  He 
was  the  son  of  the  Hon.  James  Russell,  another  distinguished 
friend  of  this  church  and  town,  of  whom  President  Dwight 
says,  ''  Few  men  of  any  age  or  country  have  presented  a  better 
character,  a  fairer  image  of  excellence  to  the  eyes  of  mankind. 
As  a  son,  a  husband,  a  father,  a  neighbor,  a  friend,  and  a  citizen, 
he  adorned  life  with  a  peculiar  native  amiableness  of  character, 
and  the  superior  worth  of  a  Christian.  I  was  intimately  ac- 
quainted with  this  venerable  man,  and  can,  therefore,  speak  of 
him  extensively  from  personal  knowledge.  I  know  not  that  I 
have  ever  seen  a  man  less  solicitous  to  shine,  or  more  anxious 
to  do  good,  or  to  whom  I  should  more  readily  apply  without 
reserve,  the  honorable  character  given  to  Nathanael  by  the 
Saviour  :  '  Behold  an  Israelite  indeed,  in  whom  is  no  guile.'  "  ^ 

The  silver  basin,  which  has  been  used  for  more  than  a  cen- 
tury, as  the  baptismal  laver,  bears  this  inscription  in  Latin  : 
"  Henry  Phillips  dedicates  this  laver  to  the  church  of  Charles- 
town,  in  New  England,  for  the  use  of  baptism,  the  1st  of  May, 
1726." 

Besides  these,  there  are  many  other  names  and  characters 
which  deserve  a  grateful  and  honored  remembrance.  But  I 
will  detain  you  to  mention  two  only,  who  died  within  a  few 
months  of  each  other,  in  the  year  1807,  Richard  Devens,  Esq., 
and  Dea.  John  Larkin.     As  a  Christian,  Mr.  Devens  was,  during 

»  Note  56.  «  Dwight's  Travels,  I.  476.    Note  57. 


160 

a  long  life,  a  pillar  of  this  church — eminent  for  his  attachment 
to  the  ancient  faith  of  New  England,  and  for  the  depth  of  his 
spiritual  experience.  Not  to  mention  the  stations  of  public 
honor  and  trust  which  he  occupied,  he  was  distinguished  still 
more  in  private,  by  his  secret  benefactions  to  the  poor,  and  his 
zealous  endeavors  to  spread  the  Scriptures,  and  the  knowledge 
of  salvation.^  We  may  not  dwell  upon  the  benefactions  of  the 
generous  and  devotedly  pious  Dea.  Larkin ;  his  character  as  a 
Christian,  and  a  venerable  officer  and  pillar  of  this  church, 
should  long  be  kept  in  remembrance,  as  his  name  cannot  fail  to 
be,  through  the  yearly  distribution  of  the  charities  this  church 
dispenses  in  his  behalf.  The  pastor  of  the  church  was  present 
and  witnessed  his  death,  and  has  left  his  testimony  that  "  never 
did  he  behold  such  a  scene  of  mingled  sorrow  and  joy.  There 
was  nothing  in  it  ghastly  or  awful.  Not  a  limb  was  convulsed, 
nor  a  feature  of  the  face  distorted.  A  smile  of  joy  even  beamed 
on  his  dying  countenance.  Closing  his  own  eyes,  he  sweetly 
fell  asleep,  not  to  awake  again  till  the  resurrection."^ 

But  I  must  check  myself  in  these  recitals,  and  hasten  to  a 
conclusion,  by  giving  the  final  impression  left  upon  my  mind, 
by  the  preparation  of  these  discourses,  respecting  the  religious 
character  of  our  ancestors. 

I  should  not  indeed  attempt  to  give  a  full  analysis,  or  final 
estimate  of  the  Puritan  character ;  it  is  a  theme  beyond  the 
compass  of  my  reading  and  power  ;  and  it  may  be  doubted — 
while  their  institutions  are  still  in  a  course  of  experiment, 
whether  the  wisdom  and  value  of  their  principles  can  be  judged 
of  with  perfect  accuracy.  Much  has  been  written  of  them 
eloquently,  affectionately,  truly.  He  who  would  deny  them 
merit,  and  exalted  merit,  must  either  be  ignorant  of  their  true 
character,  or  insensible  to  the  highest  elements  of  greatness  and 
goodness.  They  were  not  only  lovers  of  truth,  but  of  the 
noblest  and  best  kind  of  truth.  They  not  only  loved  and  cul- 
tivated virtue,  but  they  loved  and  practiced  those  virtues  most, 
which  are  encompassed  with  the  severest  self-denial — which  are 
most  essential  to  the  prosperity  of  a  community,  and  most 
intimately  connected  with  the  glory  of  God.  Their  principles 
must  ever  be  the  foundation  of  every  truly  great  and  noble 

»  Pemoplist  III.  239.  »  Panoplist  HI.  429,    See  Note  68. 


161 

character.  Theirs  was  the  frame-work  which  God  and  the 
Bible  sanction ;  nothing  save  the  proportion  and  the  relations 
of  the  parts  can  be  safely  altered. 

We  love,  then,  and  honor  the  Puritans  ;  but  we  do  not  idolize 
them.  The  very  greatness  of  their  virtues  indicates  their  faults. 
There  is  a  happy  medium  where  opposite  virtues  balance  each 
other,  and  contending  forces  are  at  rest ;  this  perfection  the 
Puritans  did  not  reach.  They  seized  hold  of  the  great  central 
principles  of  the  word  of  God,  without  which  there  is  no  Chris- 
tianity ;  but  held  them  perhaps  too  much  apart  from  those 
graces  which,  if  not  essential  to  the  life,  are  so  to  the  beauty 
and  symmetry  of  religion.  They  were  rigid  and  severe,  not 
because  they  would  banish  refinement,  or  extirpate  the  finer 
sensibilities ;  but  because  they  felt  that  the  times  were  so  criti- 
cal as  to  place  the  essentials  of  religion  in  jeopardy.  Hence, 
there  was  something  artificial  about  their  characters — some- 
thing stern  in  their  deportment.  The  principles  of  their  Chris- 
tian character  stood  out  somewhat  like  the  frame-work  of  their 
meeting-houses,  the  posts  and  beams  and  braces  of  which 
were  all  in  open  sight,  strong  and  enduring,  but  not  like  our 
modern  temples,  beautiful  to  the  eye. 

Now  this  peculiarity  of  the  Puritan  character,  it  seems  to 
me,  has  done  more  than  any  other  single  influence  to  make 
the  New  England  character  what  it  is.  Like  our  fathers, 
we  are  distinguished  for  the  attention  we  bestow  upon  the 
principal  virtues.  For  substantial  qualities,  for  industry,  intel- 
ligence, good  order,  and  stable  principles,  no  people  on  earth 
can  compare  with  the  population  of  New  England,  except 
perhaps  the  Scotch  ;  and  among  them  a  similar  religious  char- 
acter has  been  followed  by  similar  effects.  But  in  the  softer 
graces  of  character — in  the  cheaper  virtues,  if  I  may  so  call 
them,  which  diifuse  through  society  a  brighter  and  more  cheer- 
ful aspect — in  these  things  it  strikes  many  who  know  and  honor 
the  great  elements  of  our  character,  we  are  deficient.  Those 
w^ho  are  acquainted  with  life  in  our  country  villages  and 
neighborhoods,  have  remarked,  that  it  is  characterized  by  a 
too  restricted  and  reserved  social  intercourse — by  a  coldness  of 
manner,  and  a  want  of  warm  and  unsuspecting  interest  in  one 
another.  There  are  of  course  exceptions  to  this ;  but  still,  the 
well-informed  and  candid  among  us,  will  not  deny  that  life  is 
21 


162 

susceptible  of  a  much  higher  enjoyment,  in  consistency  with 
our  thrift  as  an  industrious,  and  our  seriousness  as  a  rehgious 
people. 

I  will  conclude  this  discourse,  and  with  it  the  series  to  which 
I  have  so  long  solicited,  and  you  have  so  patiently  accorded, 
your  attention,  by  addressing  a  few  remarks  to  my  respected 
hearers. 

Brethren  and  friends  of  this  ancient  church  and  congregation ! 
Allow  me  to  express  the  hope  that  these  recitals  may  be  perma- 
nently useful  to  you,  and  through  you  to  those  who  shall  stand 
after  you  within  this  sacred  enclosure,  and  upon  these  ancient 
foundations.  You  have  succeeded  to  the  labors  and  prayers  of 
men  venerable  for  their  varied  excellencies.  Let  the  history  of 
your  fathers  and  predecessors  stimulate  you  to  follow  them  as 
they  followed  Christ.  You  are  encompassed  by  a  great  cloud 
of  witnesses ;  and  if  the  spirits  of  the  blest  are  permitted  to 
revisit  spots  once  familiar  and  dear  to  them,  we  doubt  not  there 
have  been,  and  will  be  in  our  midst,  many  shining  and  rejoicing 
ones,  who  once  wept,  and  toiled,  and  prayed  as  we  do  now. 
Oh !  shall  we  not  love  these  ancient  seats  ?  Among  other  and 
more  powerful  coiisiderations,  are  we  not  moved  by  a  tender 
regard  for  the  pious  dead  whose  names  are  recorded  alike  in  our 
books,  and  in  the  book  of  life,  to  give  our  heartiest  services, 
and  our  warmest  prayers  to  this  portion  of  our  Redeemer's 
church  ?  He  has  watched  over  this  '  vine  of  his  own  right 
hand's  planting ' — he  has  carried  it  through  fire  and  through 
water — and  he  still  remembereth  his  covenant,  and  will  yet 
spread  above  us  the  clouds  of  his  mercy,  and  pour  them  down 
in  honor  of  the  prayers  which  have  gone  up  from  this  hill ! 

Finally,  permit  me  to  say  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  town, 
who  have  honored  me  with  their  attention,  In  your  ancestral 
recollections  you  have  a  rich  inheritance.  No  people  on  earth 
can  claim  a  worthier  original  than  New  England,  and  among 
her  communities  few  are  more  distinguished  in  this  respect  than 
yours.  Said  a  gentleman  to  me  the  other  day,  who  had  come 
to  revisit  the  place  of  his  birth,  and  who  had  visited  the  spot 
where  is  deposited  the  dust  of  the  noble  and  mighty  dead  of 
England,  "  In  no  place  on  earth  are  nobler  men  sleeping,  than 
in  your  burial-ground ! "     I  care  not  whether,  in   a   worldly 


163 

sense,  this  be  true  or  not.  But  I  am  persuaded  that  no  spot  con- 
tams  the  ashes  of  men,  whose  principles  were  more  elevated, 
whose  beneficence  was  more  genuine  and  extensive,  or  whose 
piety  was  more  sincere  and  active.  If  you  are  not  sprung  from 
the  loins  of  kings,  and  a  titled  aristocracy,  it  is  a  higher  glory 
that  you  are  the  sons  of  "  sires  that  have  passed  into  the  skies." 
The  nobility  of  your  ancestors  was  not  "  the  accident  of  an 
accident,*'  but  something  wrought  out  by  themselves,  the  native 
product  of  their  own  hearts  and  minds.  They  were  ennobled 
by  the  gifts  of  God's  grace.  You  are  justly  proud  of  the 
memories  of  yonder  hill ;  but  there  are  also  ante-Revolutionary 
memories.  You  have  reason  to  be  proud  of  another  hill,  where 
the  ashes  of  your  fathers  repose — slain  indeed,  but  slain  by  a 
conquered  enemy.  They  sleep  in  Jesus.  With  them  may  it  be 
your  lot  to  sleep ;  and  with  them  your  blessedness  to  rise  ! 


NOTES. 

Note  1,  page  10. 

ARRIVAL  OF   WINTHROP. 

WiNTHROP  sailed  from  Yarmouth  at  the  Isle  of  Wight,  April  8,  1630, 
on  board  the  Arbella,  in  company  with  three  other  ships,  the  Talbot, 
the  Ambrose,  and  the  Jewel.  The  Arbella  was  a  ship  of  350  tons, 
manned  with  52  seamen  and  28  pieces  of  ordnance,  and  was  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Peter  Milborne,  These  four  arrived  at  Salem — the 
Arbella,  June  12;  the  Jewel,  June  13;  the  Ambrose,  June  18,  and 
the  Talbot,  July  2.  The  rest  of  the  fleet,  seven  other  ships,  viz. :  the 
May  Flower,  Whale,  Hopewell,  William  and  Francis,  Trial,  Charles, 
and  Success,  not  being  ready  to  accompany  the  four  above-mentioned, 
set  sail  from  South  Hampton  in  May,  and  arrived  at  Charlestown  or 
Salem,  between  the  1st  and  6th  of  July.  These  are  the  ships  men- 
tioned in  the  following  letter,  written  by  Winthrop  to  his  wife,  "  from 
aboard  the  Arbella,  riding  at  the  Cowes,  March  28,  1630,"  which  I 
have  transcribed  from  Savage's  edition  of  Winthrop's  Journal,  for  the 
information  it  imparts ;  but  still  more,  for  the  beautiful  illustration  it 
affords  of  the  writer's  domestic  character. 

"  My  faithful  and  dear  Wife : 

"  It  pleaseth  God,  that  thou  shouldest  once  again  hear  from  me 
before  our  departure,  and  I  hope  this  shall  come  safe  to  thy  hands.  I 
know  it  will  be  a  great  refreshing  to  thee.  And  blessed  be  his  mercy, 
that  I  can  write  thee  so  good  news,  that  we  are  all  in  very  good  health, 
and,  having  tried  our  ship's  entertainment  now  more  than  a  week,  we 
find  it  agree  very  well  with  us.  Our  boys  are  well  and  cheerful,  and 
have  no  mind  of  home.  They  lie  both  with  me,  and  sleep  as  soundly 
in  a  rug  (for  we  use  no  sheets  here)  as  ever  they  did  at  Groton  ;  and  so 
I  do  myself,  (I  praise  God.)  The  wind  hath  been  against  us  this  week 
and  more  ;  but  this  day  it  is  come  fair  to  the  north,  so  as  we  are  pre- 
paring (by  God's  assistance)  to  set  sail  in  the  morning.  We  have  only 
four  ships  ready,  and  some  two  or  three  Hollanders  go  along  with  us. 
The  rest  of  our  fleet  (being  seven  ships)  will  not  be  ready  this  sen- 
night. We  have  spent  now  two  Sabbaths  on  ship-board  very  comfort- 
ably, (God  be  praised,)  and  are  daily  more  and  more  encouraged  to 
look  for  the  Lord's  presence  to  go  along  with  us.  Henry  Kingsbury 
hath  a  child  or  two  in  the  Talbot  sick  of  the  measles,  but  like  to  do 


166 

well.  One  of  my  men  had  them  at  Hampton,  but  he  was  soon  well 
again.  We  are,  in  all  our  eleven  ships,  about  700  persons,  passengers, 
and  240  cows  and  about  60  horses.  The  ship  which  went  from 
Plymouth  carried  about  140  persons,  and  the  ship  which  goes  from 
Bristowe  carrieth  about  80  persons.  And  now  (my  sweet  soul)  I  must 
once  again  take  my  last  farewell  of  thee  in  Old  England.  It  goeth 
very  near  to  my  heart  to  leave  thee  ;  but  I  know  to  whom  I  have  com- 
mitted thee,  even  to  him  who  loves  thee  much  better  than  any  husband 
can,  who  hath  taken  account  of  the  hairs  of  thy  head,  and  puts  all  thy 
tears  in  his  bottle,  who  can,  and  (if  it  be  for  his  glory)  will  bring  us 
together  again  with  peace  and  comfort.  Oh,  how  it  refresheth  my 
heart,  to  think,  that  I  shall  yet  again  see  thy  sweet  face  in  the  land  of 
the  living  ! — that  lovely  countenance,  that  I  have  so  much  delighted  in, 
and  beheld  with  so  great  content !  I  have  hitherto  been  so  taken  up 
with  business,  as  I  could  seldom  look  back  to  ray  former  happiness  ; 
but  now,  when  I  shall  be  at  some  leisure,  I  shall  not  avoid  the  remem- 
brance of  thee,  nor  the  grief  for  thy  absence.  Thou  hast  thy  share 
with  me,  but  I  hope  the  course  we  have  agreed  upon  will  be  some  ease 
to  us  both.  Mondays  and  Fridays,  at  five  of  the  clock  at  night,  we 
shall  meet  in  spirit  till  we  meet  in  person.  Yet,  if  all  these  hopes 
should  fail,  blessed  be  our  God,  that  we  are  assured  we  shall  meet  one 
day,  if  not  as  husband  and  wife,  yet  in  a  better  condition.  Let  that 
stay  and  comfort  thy  heart.  Neither  can  the  sea  drown  thy  husband, 
nor  enemies  destroy,  nor  any  adversity  deprive  thee  of  thy  husband  or 
children.  Therefore  I  will  only  take  thee  now  and  my  sweet  children 
in  mine  arms,  and  kiss  and  embrace  you  all,  and  so  leave  you  with  my 
God.  Farewell,  farewell.  I  bless  you  all  in  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus.  I  salute  my  daughter  Winth.  Matt.  Nan.  and  the  rest,  and  all 
my  good  neighbors  and  friends.  Pray  all  for  us.  Farewell.  Com- 
mend my  blessing  to  my  son  John.  I  cannot  now  write  to  him  ;  but 
tell  him  I  have  committed  thee  and  thine  to  him.  Labor  to  draw  him 
yet  nearer  to  God,  and  he  will  be  the  surer  staff  of  comfort  to  thee.  I 
cannot  name  the  rest  of  my  good  friends,  but  thou  canst  supply  it.  I 
wrote,  a  week  since,  to  thee  and  Mr.  Leigh  and  divers  others. 
"  Thine  wheresoever, 

"Jo.    WiNTHROP." 

Our  Charlestown  records  say  that  Winthrop  and  his  company, 
amounting  to  about  1 ,500  persons  in  all,  were  brought  over  in  twelve 
ships.  Prince  supposes  that  the  Mary  and  John,  which  sailed  from 
Plymouth,  March  20,  and  arrived  May  30,  at  Nantasket,  was  one  of 
the  twelve.  Gov.  Dudley,  in  his  letter  to  the  countess  of  Lincoln,  says 
that  seventeen  ships  arrived  in  New  England  during  the  year  1630, 
"  for  the  increase  of  the  plantation  here  ;  but  made  a  long,  a  trouble- 
some, and  a  costly  voyage,  being  all  windbound  long  in  England,  and 
hindered  with  contrary  winds  after  they  set  sail,  and  so  scattered  with 
mists  and  tempests  that  few  of  them  arrived  together." 

"We  began  to  consult  of  the  place  of  our  sitting  down,"  says 
Dudley,  "  for  Salem,  where  we  landed,  pleased  us  not." 

"  And  to  that  purpose,  some  were  sent  to  the  bay,  to  search  up  the 
rivers  for  a  convenient  place;  who,  upon  their  return,  reported  to  have 
found  a  good  place  upon  Mistick  j  but  some  other  of  us,  seconding 


167 

these,  to  approve  or  dislike  of  their  judgment,  we  found  a  place  liked 
us  better,  three  leagues  up  Charles  River  ;  and  thereupon  unshipped 
our  goods  into  other  vessels,  and  with  much  cost  and  labor,  brought 
them  in  July  to  Charlestown  ;  but  there  receiving  advertisements  (by 
some  of  the  late-arrived  ships)  from  London  and  Amsterdam,  of  some 
French  preparations  against  us,  (many  of  our  people  brought  with  us 
being  sick  of  fevers,  and  the  scurvy,  and  we  thereby  unable  to  carry 
up  our  ordnance  and  baggage  so  far,)  we  were  forced  to  change  coun- 
sel, and  for  our  present  shelter  to  plant  dispersedly,  some  at  Charles- 
town,  which  standeth  on  the  north  side  of  the  mouth  of  Charles  River ; 
some  on  the  south  side  thereof,  which  place  we  named  Boston  (as  we 
intended  to  have  done  the  place  we  first  resolved  on) ;  some  of  us  upon 
Mistick,  which  we  named  Meadford  ;  some  of  us  westward  on  Charles 
River,  four  miles  from  Charlestown,  which  place  we  named  Water- 
town  ;  others  of  us  two  miles  from  Boston,  in  a  place  we  named  Rox- 
bury  ;  others  upon  the  river  of  Sawgus,  between  Salem  and  Charles- 
town :  and  the  Western  men,  four  miles  south  from  Boston  in  a  place 
we  named  Dorchester.  This  dispersion  troubled  some  of  us,  but  help 
it  we  could  not,  wanting  ability  to  remove  to  any  place  fit  to  build  a 
town  upon  ;  and  the  time  too  short  to  deliberate  any  longer,  lest  the 
winter  should  surprise  us  before  we  had  builded  our  houses.  The  best 
counsel  we  could  find  out  was  to  build  a  fort  to  retire  to,  in  some  con- 
venient place,  if  any  enemy  pressed  us  thereunto,  after  we  should  have 
fortified  ourselves  against  the  injuries  of  wet  and  cold." 

It  will  appear  from  an  attentive  reading  of  the  above  account,  that 
Charlestown  was  not  the  site,  which  was  selected  either  by  the  first  or 
second  exploring  party.  Governor  Winthrop  was  probably  of  the  first 
party.  He  says,  under  date  of  Thursday,  June  17,  "  We  went  to 
Mattachusetts,  to  find  out  a  place  for  our  sitting  down.  We  went  up 
Mistick  River  about  six  miles."  The  next  party,  who  were  sent,  as 
Dudley  says,  "to  approve  or  dislike  the  judgment"  of  the  first,  found 
a  place  they  liked  better,  three  leagues  up  Charles  River.  Mr.  Savage 
says  that  this  place  was  Charlestown,  supposing  that  Dudley  represents 
the  mouth  of  Charles  River  at  the  outer  light-house.  But  this  suppo- 
sition is  inconsistent  with  Dudley's  narrative,  in  which  he  gives  as  a 
reason  for  their  settling  at  Charlestown  and  other  places,  their  inability 
through  sickness  to  go  so  far  as  the  place  they  had  selected,  three 
leagues  up  Charles  River.  Besides,  he  describes  Charlestown  as 
"  standing  on  the  north  side  of  the  mouth  of  Charles  River."  Prince 
supposes  that  this  place,  described  as  "  three  leagues  up  Charles 
River,"  was  "  at  the  place  whence  the  Dorchester  people  were  ordered 
to  remove,"  which  was  afterwards  called  Watertown. 

It  is  certain,  therefore,  that  Charlestown  was  not,  as  has  been  sup- 
posed, the  place  fixed  upon  by  the  colonists  for  their  first  settlement. 
And  it  is  apparent,  also,  that  the  precise  date  of  the  landing  and  set- 
tlement of  Winthrop  and  his  companions  in  Charlestown,  cannot  be 
determined.  Governor  Everett,  in  his  address  delivered  before  the 
Charlestown  Lyceum,  calls  the  28th  June,  1830,  N.  S.,  the  second 
centennial  anniversary.  This  date  is  derived  probably  from  that  given 
by  Winthrop,  June  17  ;  but  the  day  corresponding  to  this,  would  be 
June  27,  not  28  ;  and  besides,  this  date  refers  to  the  exploration  of  the 
Mistick,  not  to  the  settlement  of  the  town  by  Winthrop  and  his  com- 


168 

pany.  The  nearest  approximation  to  the  date  of  the  latter  event 
which  can  be  reached,  is  that  given  by  Prince,  who  says,  "  it  seems  as 
if  the  fleet  arrived  at  Charlestown  July  10,  by  Mr.  Wilson's  yearly 
allowance  out  of  the  public  treasury  beginning  on  that  day." 


Note  2,  page  10. 

THOMAS   WALFORD. 

As  this  individual  was  the  first  white  inhabitant  of  Charlestown,  it 
may  be  interesting  to  learn  what  may  be  known  respecting  him. 

He  appears  not  to  have  lived  amicably  with  the  new  settlers,  for  in 
April,  1631,  he  was  "fined  ,£10,  and  enjoined,  he  and  his  wife,  to 
depart  out  of  the  limits  of  this  patent."  In  the  following  month,  he 
was  fined  £'2,  and  "  he  paid  it  by  killing  awolf ;"  and  in  the  following 
September,  it  was  ordered  that  his  goods  be  sequestered,  "  to  satisfy 
the  debts  he  owes  in  the  Bay  to  several  persons."  After  this,  he 
became  a  valuable  citizen  of  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  where  he 
is  mentioned  as  being  one  of  the  trustees,  or  wardens  of  the  church 
property.' 


Note  3,  page  10. 
THOMAS  GRAVES. 

Dr.  Morse  says  that  this  gentleman,  whom  he  calls  Thomas  Greaves, 
but  whose  name  is  spelt  Graves  on  our  town  records,  was  the  son  of 
John  Greaves,  and  was  born  in  Ratcliffe,  England,  June  6,  1605,  and 
was  the  ancestor  of  the  Greaves  family  of  this  place.  Others  have 
supposed  that  there  was  another  Thomas  Graves,  and  there  are  many 
things  to  favor  this  opinion.  There  was  a  Mr.  Graves  who  was  mate 
of  the  Talbot,  when  Higginson  came  over,  and  one  of  the  mates  of  the 
Arbella,  when  Winthrop  came,  and  who  subsequently  became  master 
of  a  vessel,  and  of  whom  Winthrop  says  in  his  journal,  under  date  of 
June  3,  1635,  that  "  he  had  come  every  year  for  these  seven  years." 
Prince  says  that  the  Thomas  Graves,  who  desired  to  be  made  a  free- 
man in  1630,  afterwards  became  a  rear-admiral  in  England.  Now  the 
Mr.  Graves  who  "  had  charge  of  the  servants  of  the  company  of  Pat- 
tentees,"  before  Winthrop's  arrival,  is  spoken  of  as  "  a  person  skillful 
in  mines  of  iron,  lead,  copper,  mineral  salt,  and  alum,  fortifications  of 
all  sorts,  surveying,  &c."  and  speaks  of  himself  as  a  traveller,  who  had 
been  in  Hungary  ;  it  would  seem,  therefore,  the  more  natural  conclu- 
sion, that  the  Mr.  Graves  of  whom  Winthrop  speaks,  was  the  one 
appointed  rear-admiral  by  Cromwell,  "  for  his  bravery  at  sea,  in  cap- 
turing a  Dutch  privateer,  under  great  disadvantages." 

>  Savage's  Winthrop,  I.  p.  63.    2  Hist.  Coll.  V.  p.  220. 


169 

Thomas  Graves  married  Katharine  Coytmore,  the  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Katharine  Coytmore  of  this  town  ;  they  were  admitted  to 
the  church  October  7,  1 639.  Their  son  Nathaniell  was  baptized 
November  5,  1039.  Their  son  Thomas  was  born  1 638,  but  his  bap- 
tism is  not  recorded.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1656,  and 
settled  in  this  town  as  a  physician.  He  was  a  representative  of  the 
town  in  1677  and  8,  and  judge  of  the  county  court.  He  died  May  30, 
1697.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Sewall  of  Burlington,  has  kindly  furnished  me 
with  the  following  interesting  extract  from  his  ancestor's  manuscript 
journal.  "  June  I,  1697.  I  go  to  the  funeral  of  my  tutor,  Mr.  Thomas 
Graves.  Bearers  were,  Capt.  Byfield,  Mr.  Leverett ;  Capt.  Sprague, 
Capt.  Hammond  ;  Mr.  James  Oliver,  Mr.  Simon  Bradstreet.  Charles- 
town  gentlemen  had  gloves  ;  Mr.  Danforth  had  none  that  I  observed. 
Mr.  Graves  was  a  godly  learned  man,  a  good  tutor,  and  solid  preacher ; 
his  obstinate  adherence  to  some  superstitious  conceits  of  the  Common 
Prayer  book,  bred  himself  and  others  a  great  deal  of  trouble  ;  yet  I 
think  he  kept  to  the  church  at  Charlestown  as  to  his  most  constant 
attendance,  especially  on  the  Lord's  day.  Has  left  one  son  by  Mr. 
Stedman's  daughter.  My  tutors  are  gone,  the  Lord  help  me  to  do 
worthily  while  I  stay  here,  and  be  in  a  readiness  to  follow  after!"  Mr. 
Thomas  Graves  was  admitted  to  the  church,  September  1 7,  1665. 

Dr.  Graves'  son  Thomas,  was  born  September  28,  1683,  (his  baptism 
is  recorded  on  the  30th  September,  1683,  as  the  son  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Greaves  and  Sarai  his  wife)  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1703,  suc- 
ceeded his  father  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  this  town,  and  besides 
filling  the  offices  his  father  sustained,  became  judge  of  the  supreme 
court.  He  died  June  19,  1747.  His  daughter  Katharine  became  the 
wife  of  the  Hon.  James  Russell,  and  mother  of  the  Hon.  Thomas 
Russell.* 

It  may  be  interesting  in  this  connection,  to  append  an  extract  from 
a  letter  written  by  Mr.  Graves,  the  engineer,  1629,  giving  a  description 
of  the  country  in  its  natural  state,  and  published  with  Mr.  Higginson's 
"  New  England's  Plantation,"  in  London,  1630. 

Mr.  Higginson,  writing  of  the  condition  of  the  plantation  at  the 
time  he  wrote,  1629,  says,  "  there  are  in  all  of  us  about  three  hundred, 
whereof  two  hundred  are  settled  at  Salem,  and  the  rest  have  planted 
themselves  at  Massachusetts  Bay,  beginning  to  build  a  town  there, 
which  we  do  call  Cherton,  or  Charlestown." 

Mr.  Graves,  writing  at  this  time,  says,  "  Thus  much  I  can  affirm  in 
general,  that  I  never  came  in  a  more  goodly  country  in  all  my  life,  all 
things  considered.  If  it  hath  not  at  any  time  been  manured  and  hus- 
banded, yet  it  is  very  beautiful  in  open  lands,  mixed  with  goodly  woods, 
and  again  open  plains,  in  some  places  500  acres,  some  places  more, 
some  less,  not  much  troublesome  for  to  clear  for  the  plough  to  go  in, 
no  place  barren  but  on  the  tops  of  the  hills  ;  the  grass  and  weeds  grow 
up  to  a  man's  face,  in  the  low  lands  and  by  fresh  rivers  abundance  of 
grass  and  large  meadows  without  any  tree  or  shrub  to  hinder  the 
scythe.  I  never  saw  except  in  Hungaria,  unto  which  I  always  parallel 
this  country,  in  all  our  most  respects,  for  every  thing  that  is  here  either 

'  See  Dr.  Morse's  sermon  occasioned  by  the  death  of  Hon.  Thomas  Russell,  1796.    p.  22. 

22 


170 

sown  or  planted  prospereth  far  better  than  in  Old  England,  The 
increase  of  corn  is  here  far  beyond  expectation,  as  I  have  seen  here  by 
experience  in  barley,  the  which  because  it  is  so  much  above  your 
conception  I  will  not  mention.  And  cattle  do  prosper  very  well,  and 
those  that  are  bred  here  far  greater  than  those  with  you  in  England. 
Vines  do  grow  here  plentifully  laden  with  the  biggest  grapes  that  ever 
I  saw,  some  I  have  seen  four  inches  about,  so  that  I  am  bold  to  say  of 
this  country,  as  it  is  commonly  said  in  Germany  of  Hungaria,  that  for 
cattle,  corn  and  wine  it  excelleth.  We  have  many  more  hopeful  com- 
modities here  in  this  country,  the  which  time  will  teach  to  make  good 
use  of  In  the  mean-time  we  abound  with  such  things  which  next 
under  God  do  make  us  subsist;  as  fish,  fowl,  deer,  and  sundry  sorts  of 
fruits,  as  musk-melons,  water-melons,  Indian  pompions,  Indian  pease, 
beans,  and  many  other  odd  fruits  that  I  cannot  name  ;  all  which  are 
made  good  and  pleasant  through  this  main  blessing  of  God,  the  health- 
fulness  of  the  country,  which  far  exceedeth  all  parts  that  ever  I  have 
been  in  ;  it  is  observed  that  few  or  none  do  here  fall  sick,  unless  of  the 
scurvy,  that  they  bring  from  aboard  the  ship  with  them,  whereof  I  have 
cured  some  of  my  company  only  by  labor."  ' 

The  enthusiasm  of  the  immigrant  under  the  excitement  of  novelty, 
and  before  the  trials  of  a  new  country  have  been  experienced,  is  suf- 
ficiently apparent  in  the  above.  It  reminds  us  of  the  highly  colored 
representations  of  life  in  the  West,  sent  back  to  us  by  some  of  the 
early  emigrants. 

It  is  very  possible  that  Governor  Dudley  alluded  to  this  letter  of 
Mr.  Graves,  when  he  spoke  of  "  honest  men  out  of  a  desire  to  draw 
over  others  to  them,  writing  somewhat  hyperbolically  of  many  things 
here."  « 


Note  4,  page  11. 

REV.  FRANCIS    BRIGHT. 

This  clergyman  was  trained  up  under  the  Rev.  Mr.  Davenport,  and 
was  a  Puritan,  but  probably  more  disposed  to  conform  to  the  church  of 
England  than  many  with  whom  he  found  himself  associated  here.  He 
arrived  in  Salem  in  the  Lion's  Whelp,  June,  1629,  and  in  consequence 
of  a  disagreement  in  judgment  with  Messrs.  Higginson  and  Skelton, 
his  associates,  came  to  Charlestown.     He  remained  here,  however,  but 


*  1  Hist.  Coll.  1.  p.  124.  The  Historical  Collections  give  only  an  extract  from  this  letter, 
and  this  is  all  I  have  ever  met  with. 

In  the  "  Bibliothecse  Americanoe  Primordia,"  published  1713,  by  White  Kennett,  there  is 
a  notice  of  this  letter  as  belonging  to  that  library.  "  '  A  coppie  of  a  Letter  from  an  Ingineer 
sent  oat  to  New  England  written  to  a  friend  in  England,  A.  D.  16"29,  giving  an  Account  of 
his  landing  with  a  small  company  at  Salem,  and  thence  going  and  making  a  settlement  at 
Massachusetts  Baj',  and  laying  the  Foundation  of  a  Town,  to  which  the  Governour  gave  the 
name  of  Charlestown,  with  a  pleasing  description  of  the  exceeding  Pleasantness  and  Fruit- 
fulness  of  the  Countrv.  and  of  the  civulity  of  the  natives.'  In  one  sheet  AJS.  [Ex  dono  Rev. 
Alexandri  Young,  S.'T.  B.]" 

*  See  the  extract  from  his  letter  to  the  Countess  of  Lincoln,  quoted  Lecture  I.  p.  19. 


171 

little  more  than  a  year,  when  he  returned  to  England.  Johnson  speaks 
of  Mr.  Bright  and  Mr.  Blackstone,  as  two  that  began  to  hew  stones  in 
the  mountains,  for  the  building  of  the  Temple;  but  when  they  saw  all 
sorts  of  stones  would  not  fit  in  the  building,  as  they  supposed,  the  one 
betook  him  to  the  seas  again,  and  the  other  to  till  the  land,  retaining 
no  symbol  of  his  former  profession,  but  a  canonical  coat.' 


Note  5,  page  11. 

TOWN  RECORDS. 

The  facts  mentioned  in  the  Lecture,  respecting  the  settlement  of  the 
town,  have  been  derived  from  our  Town  Records.  These  records, 
says  Prince,  page  250,  were  written  by  Increase  Nowell.  But  if  they 
were  originally  written  by  him,  they  were  subsequently  copied  ;  for  the 
handwriting  in  which  they  now  appear,  continues  down  to  November 
25,  1661.  This  fact  may  account  for  the  obvious  mistake  which 
appears  in  them,  by  which  the  landing  of  Winthrop  is  said  to  have 
taken  place  in  1629,  and  all  the  events  of  that  period  are  antedated 
a  year.  The  time,  however,  which  the  records  fix  for  the  arrival  of  the 
Spragues,  1628,  is  confirmed  by  Prince,  page  250. 

But  notwithstanding  this  error,  which  is  that  of  the  transcriber 
probably,  these  early  records  are  exceedingly  interesting  and  valuable; 
and  I  have,  therefore,  copied  out  a  few  pages,  leaving  blanks  for  the 
words  that  are  effaced,  and  enclosing  in  brackets  those  which  I  was 
able  to  decypher  only  in  part. 

"  Captain  John  Smith,  having  (in  the  reign  of  our  sovereign  Lord 
James,  by  the  grace  of  God,  king  of  England,  Scotland,  France  and 
Ireland,  Defender  of  the  Faith)  made  a  discovery  of  some  parts  of 
America,  lighted  amongst  other  places  upon  the  opening  betwixt  Cape 
Cod  and  Cape  Ann,  situate  and  lying  in  315  degrees  of  Longitude, 
and  42  degrees  20  minutes  of  north  Latitude,  when,  by  sounding  and 
making  up,  he  fell  in  amongst  the  Islands,  and  advanced  up  into  the 
Massachusetts  Bay  till  he  came  up  into  the  River  between  Mishawum 
(afterwards  called  Charlestown)  and  Shawmut,  (afterwards  called  Bos- 
ton) and  having  made  discovery  of  the  land,  Rivers,  Coves  and  Creeks, 
in  the  said  Bay,  and  also  taken  some  observations  of  the  natures  and 
dispositions  and  sundry  customs  of  the  numerous  Indians,  or  Natives 
inhabiting  the  same,  he  returned  to  England,  where  (?)  (it  was  re- 
ported that)  upon  his  arrival,  he  presented  a  map  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Bay  to  the  King  ;  and  that  the  Prince,  (afterwards  king  Charles 
the  first)  upon  enquiry  and  perusal  of  the  foresaid  River,  and  the  situ- 
ation thereof  upon  the  map,  appointed  it  to  be  called  Charles  River. 

"  Now,  upon  the  fame  that  there  went  abroad  of  the  place,  both  in 
England  and  Holland,  several  persons  of  quality  sent  over  [several]  at 

»  Wonder  Workiag  Prov.  ch.  9.    Hubb.  ch.  19.     Prince's  Chron.  237-261. 


172 

their  own  cost,  who  planted  this  country  in  several  [parts] ;  but  for 
want  of  judgment,  care,  and  orderly  living,  divers  died  ;  others  meet- 
ing with  many  hazards,  hardships,  and  wants,  at  length  being  reduced 
to  great  penury  and  extremity,  were  so  tired  out,  that  they  took  all 
opportunities  of  returning  to  England,  upon  which  several  places  were 
altogether  deserted  ;  and  [  ]  only  some  few  that  upon  a  better  prin- 
ciple, transported  themselves  from  England  and  Holland,  came  and 
settled  their  Plantation  a  little  within  Cape  Cod,  and  called  the  same 
Plymouth. 

"  Notwithstanding  all  their  wants,  hazards,  and  sufferings,  [  ] 

several  years  in  a  manner  alone,  at  which  time  this  country  was  gener- 
ally called  by  the  name  of  New  England. 

"  At  length,  divers  gentlemen  and  merchants  of  London,  obtained  a 
patent  and  charter  for  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  (from  our  Sovereign 
Lord,   King  Charles  the  first)  gave  invitation  to  [  ]  as  would, 

(transport  themselves  from  Old  England  to  New  England,)  to  go  and 
possess  the  same  ;  and  for  their  encouragement,  the  said  Pattentees,  at 
their  own  cost,  sent  over  a  company  [of]  servants,  under  the  government 
of  Mr.  John  Endicott,  who,  arriv[ing]  within  this  Bay,  settled  the  first 
Plantation  of  this  jurisdiction,  called  Salem;  under  whose  wing  there 
were  a  few  also  that  settle  and  plant  up  and  down,  scattering  in  several 
places  of  [the]  Bay,  where,  though  they  met  with  the  dangers,  difficul- 
ties, and  [  ]  attending  new  plantations,  in  a  solitary  wilderness, 
and  so  far  remote  from  their  Native  Country,  yet  were  they  not  [left] 
without  company ;  for  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  six  hun- 
dred twenty-eight,  came  over  from  England,  several  people  at  their 
own  charge,  and  arrived  at  Salem,  after  which,  people  came  over  yearly 
in  great  numbers.  In  [  ]  years,  many  hundreds  arrived,  and 
settled  not  only  in  Massachusetts  Bay,  but  did  suddenly  spread  them- 
selves into  other  colonies  also, 

"  Amongst  others  that  arrived  at  Salem,  at  their  own  cost,  were  Ralph 
Sprague  with  his  brethren,  Richard  and  William,  who,  with  three  or 
four  more,  by  joint  consent,  and  approbation  of  Mr.  John  Endicott, 
Governor,  did,  the  same  Summer  of  Anno  1628,  undertake  a  journey 
from  Salem,  and  travelled  through  woods  about  twelve  miles  to  the 
westward,  and  lighted  of  a  place  situate  and  lying  on  the  north  side  of 
Charles  River,  full  of  Lidians,  called  Aberginians  ;  their  old  Sachem 
being  dead,  his  eldest  son,  by  the  English  called  John  Sagamore,  was 
their  chief,  and  a  man  naturally  of  a  gentle  and  good  disposition,  by 
whose  free  consent  they  settled  about  the  hill  of  the  same  place,  by  the 
said  natives  called  Mishawum,  where  they  found  but  one  English  pal- 
lisadoed  and  thatched  house,  wherein  lived  Thomas  Walford,  a  smith, 
situate  on  the  south  end  of  the  westernmost  hill  of  the  east  field,  a  little 
way  up  from  Charles  River's  side  ;  and  upon  surveying,  they  found  it 
was  a  neck  of  land  generally  full  of  stately  timber,  as  was  the  main, 
and  the  land  lying  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  called  Mistick  River, 
from  the  farm  Mr.  Craddock's  servants  had  planted,  called  Mistick, 
which  this  river  led  up  unto,  and  indeed  generally  all  the  country 
round  about  was  an  uncouth  wilderness,  full  of  timber. 

"  The  Inhabitants  that  first  settled  in  this  place,  and  brought  it  into 
the  denomination  of  an  English  town,  were  in  Anno  1628,  as  follows, 
viz: 


173 

"  Ralph  Sprague ;  Richard  Sprague ;  William  Sprague ;  John 
Meech  ;  Simon  Floyte  ;  Abraham  Pahner  ;  Walter  Pamer;  Nicholas 
Stowers  ;  John  Stickliue  ;  Thomas  Walford,  smith,  that  lived  here  alone 
before  ;  Mr.  Graves,  who  had  charge  of  some  of  the  Servants  of  the 
Company  of  Pattentees,  with  whom  he  built  the  Great  House  this 
year,  for  such  of  the  said  company  as  are  shortly  to  come  over,  which 
afterwards  became  the  meeting-house  ;  and  Mr.  Bright,  Minister  to  the 
Company's  Servants. 

"  By  whom  it  was  jointly  agreed  and  concluded  that  this  place  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Charles  River,  by  the  natives  called  Mishawum,  shall 
henceforth,  from  the  name  of  the  River,  be  called  Charlestown,  which 
was  also  confirmed  by  Mr.  John  Endicott,  Governor. 

"  It  is  jointly  agreed  and  concluded  by  the  inhabitants  of  this  town, 
that  Mr.  Graves  do  moddle  and  lay  out  the  form  of  the  Town,  with 
streets  about  the  hill,  which  was  accordingly  done,  and  approved  of  by 
the  Governor. 

"  It  is  jointly  agreed  and  concluded,  that  each  inhabitant  have  a  two 
acre  lot  to  plant  upon,  and  all  to  fence  in  common,  which  was  accord- 
ingly, by  Mr.  Graves,  measured  out  to  them. 

"  Upon  which,  Ralph  Sprague  and  others,  began  to  build  their 
houses,  and  to  prepare  fencing  for  their  lots,  which  was  afterwards  set 
up  almost  in  a  semi-circular  form,  on  the  south  and  southeast  side  of 
that  field  laid  out  to  them,  which  lies  situate  on  the  northwest  side  of 
the  town  hill.  Walter  Pamer  and  one  or  two  more,  shortly  after, 
began  to  build  in  a  straight  line  upon  their  two  acre  lots  on  the  east 
side  of  the  town  hill,  and  set  up  a  slight  fence  in  common,  that  ran 
up  to  Thomas  Walford's  fence ;  and  this  was  the  beginning  of  the 
East  Field. 

"  About  the  months  of  April  and  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
1629,  there  was  a  great  design  of  the  Indians  from  the  Narragansetts, 
and  all  round  about  us  to  the  eastward  in  all  parts  to  cut  off  the  Eng- 
lish, w'hich  John  Sagamore  (who  always  loved  the  English)  revealed  to 
the  inhabitants  of  this  town  ;  but  their  design  was  chiefly  laid  against 
Plymouth,  (not  regarding  our  paucity  in  the  Bay),  to  be  effected  under 
pretence  of  having  some  sport  and  pastime  at  Plymouth,  where,  after 
some  discourse  with  the  Governor  there,  they  told  him  if  they  might 
not  come  with  leave,  they  would  without ;  upon  which,  the  said  Gov- 
ernor sent  their  flat-bottomed  boat  (which  was  all  they  had)  to  sale  for 
some  powder  and  shot ;  at  which  time  it  was  unanimously  concluded 
by  the  inhabitants  of  this  town,  that  a  small  fort  should  be  made  on 
the  top  of  this  town  hill,  with  pallisadoes,  and  flanckers  made  out, 
which  was  performed  at  the  direction  of  Mr.  Graves,  by  all  hands  of 
men,  women  and  children,  who  wrought  at  digging  and  building,  till 
the  worke  was  done ;  but  that  design  of  the  Indians  was  suddenly 
broke  up,  by  the  report  of  the  great  guns  at  Salem  only  shot  off"  to 
clear  them,  by  which  means  they  were  so  frighted,  that  all  their  compa- 
nies scattered  and  ran  away  ;  and  though  they  came  flattering  after- 
wards, and  called  themselves  our  good  friends,  yet  were  we  constrained 
by  their  conspiracies  yearly,  to  be  in  arms. 

"  In  the  months  of  June  and  July,  1629,  arrived  at  this  town,  John 
Winthrop,  Esq.,  Governor,  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  Knt.,  Mr.  John- 
son, Mr.  Dudley,  Mr.  Ludlow,  Mr.  Nowell,  Mr.  Pinchon,  Mr.  Broad- 


174 

streete,  who  brought  along  with  them  the  Charter  [and]  Pattent  for 
this  Jurisdiction  of  the  Massachusetts,  with  whom  also  arrived  Mr. 
John  Wilson  and  Mr.  Phillips,  ministers,  and  a  multitude  of  people, 
amounting  to  about  fifteen  hundred  brought  over  from  England  in 
twelve  ships.  The  Governor  and  several  of  the  Pattentees,  dwelt  in 
the  great  house  which  was  last  year  built  in  this  town  by  Mr.  Graves 
and  the  rest  of  their  servants." 


Note  6,  page  13. 
ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

The  circumstances  which  led  to  the  formation  of  this  church,  and 
the  method  pursued,  we  learn  from  a  letter  written  from  Salem,  July 
26,  by  Samuel  Fuller,  a  physician  of  Plymouth,  and  Edward  Winslow, 
at  that  time  on  a  visit  to  the  new  colony.     They  write  as  follows : 

**  To  our  loving  Brethren  and  Chrhtian  Friends,  Mr.  Wm.  Bradford, 

Mr.  Ralph  Smith,  and  Mr.  Wm.  Brewster,  these  be. 
"  Beloved,  «fcc, : 

"  Being  at  Salem,  the  25th  of  July,  being  the  Sabbath,  after  the 
evening  exercise,  Mr.  Johnson  having  received  a  letter  from  the  Gov- 
ernor, Mr.  Winthrop,  manifesting  the  hand  of  God  to  be  upon  them, 
and  against  them  at  Charlestovvn,  in  visiting  them  with  sickness,  and 
taking  divers  from  amongst  them,  not  sparing  the  righteous,  but  par- 
taking with  the  wicked  in  those  bodily  judgments  ;  it  was,  therefore, 
by  his  desire,  taken  into  the  godly  consideration  of  the  best  here,  what 
was  to  be  done  to  pacify  the  Lord's  wrath  ;  and  they  would  do  nothing 
without  our  advice.  I  mean  those  members  of  our  church  there  known 
unto  them,  viz. :  Mr.  Fuller,  Mr.  Allerton,  and  myself,  requiring  our 
voices  as  their  own,  when  it  was  concluded,  that  the  Lord  was  to  be 
sought  in  righteousness  ;  and  so  to  that  end,  the  sixth  day  (being 
Friday)  of  this  present  week,  is  set  apart,  that  they  may  humble  them- 
selves before  God,  and  seek  him  in  his  ordinances  ;  and  that  then  also, 
such  godly  persons  that  are  amongst  them,  and  known  each  to  other, 
publickly  at  the  end  of  their  exercise,  make  known  their  godly  desire, 
and  practice  the  same,  viz. :  solemnly  to  enter  into  covenant  with  the 
Lord  to  walk  in  his  ways ;  and  since  they  are  so  disposed  of  in  their 
outward  estates,  as  to  live  in  three  distinct  places,  each  having  men  of 
ability  amongst  them,  there  to  observe  the  day,  and  become  three  dis- 
tinct bodies  ;  not  then  intending  rashly  to  proceed  to  the  choice  of 
officers,  or  the  admitting  of  any  other  into  their  society,  than  a  few,  to 
wit :  such  as  are  well  known  unto  them,  promising  after  to  receive  in 
such,  by  confession,  as  shall  appear  to  be  fitly  qualified  for  that  estate  ; 
and  as  they  desired  to  advise  with  us,  so  do  they  earnestly  entreat  that 
the  church  at  Plymouth  would  set  apart  the  same  day,  for  the  same 
ends,  beseeching  God,  as  to  withdraw  his  hand  of  correction,  so  to 
establish  and  direct  them  in  his  ways  ;    and  though  the  time  be  very 


175 

short,  yet  since  the  causes  are  so  urgent,  we  pray  you  be  provoked  to 
this  godly  work,  wherein  God  will  be  honored,  and  they  and  we  un- 
doubtedly have  sweet  comfort  in  so  doing.  Be  you  all  kindly  saluted 
in  the  Lord,  together  with  the  rest  of  our  brethren ;  the  Lord  be  with 
you,  and  his  Spirit  direct  you  in  this  and  all  other  actions  that  concern 
his  glory,  and  the  good  of  his. 

"  Your  brethren  in  the  faith  of  Christ, 
•  "  And  fellowship  of  the  Gospel, 

"  Samuel  Fuller, 
"  Edward  Winslow. 
"  Salem,  July  26,  Anno  1630."  » 


Note  7,  page  14. 
JOHN  WINTHROP. 

The  character  of  John  Winthrop  will  bear  close  study.  He  was 
one  of  the  few  individuals  who,  like  Washington,  combined  great  and 
good  qualities  in  a  union  as  rare  as  it  is  happy.  His  character  is  wor- 
thy of  the  more  attention,  because  the  Puritans  are  so  commonly  rep- 
resented as  men  of  cold  sentiments  and  rigid  principles — cultivating 
the  sterner  virtues  to  the  neglect  and  contempt  of  those  which  give 
symmetry  and  grace  to  the  character,  and  constitute  the  principal 
charm  of  domestic  and  social  life.  We  do  not  mean  to  imply  that  the 
Puritans  were  perfect  men,  or  that  they  have  not  often  exposed  them- 
selves to  such  charges  as  these.  But  it  is  not  too  much  to  say,  that 
when  tried  by  the  spirit  of  the  times — the  only  fair  method  of  judging — 
few  characters  can  be  found  on  the  records  of  history,  which,  for  noble- 
ness, dignity,  and  the  beauty  of  a  just  proportion,  are  superior  to  that 
of  Winthrop,  and  his  associates  of  the  same  rank  in  the  several  plan- 
tations. It  will  be  difficult  to  parallel  the  magnanimity  of  Winthrop, 
under  the  trials  he  sustained,  of  the  loss  of  property,  the  endurance  of 
severe  privations,  and  the  unjust,  not  to  say  malicious  aspersions  cast 
upon  his  fair  name.  And  his  domestic  character  was  as  lovely  as  his 
public  was  noble.  As  a  husband  and  a  father,  he  was  characterized 
by  the  strongest  affections.  Of  this,  we  have  a  singularly  beautiful 
proof  in  his  letters,  published  in  Savage's  edition  of  his  journal.  No 
lover  of  the  domestic  virtues,  can  read  those  letters  without  admiration 
and  delight.  His  letters  to  his  wife  are  remarkable  for  the  intense 
affection,  as  well  as  self-controlling  faith  in  God  they  express.  His 
farewell  to  her — for  her  situation  did  not  permit  her  accompanying 
him — is  singularly  beautiful.     [See  p.  165.] 

The  letters  of  Mrs.  Winthrop,  are  of  the  same  character  ;  in  one  of 
them  she  writes  :  "  I  have  many  reasons  to  make  me  love  thee,  whereof 
I  will  name  two  :  first,  because  thou  lovest  God  ;  and  secondly,  because 
that  thou  lovest  me.  If  these  two  were  wanting,  all  the  rest  would  be 
eclipsed." 

»  1  Hist.  Coll.  HI.  p.  76. 


176 

This  was  Margaret,  the  third  wife  of  Governor  Winthrop.  She  was 
married  to  him,  April  29,  1618,  and  died  June  14,  1647,  aged  about 
fifty-six  years ; — "  a  woman,"  says  the  Governor,  in  recording  her 
death,  "  of  singular  virtue,  prudence,  modesty,  and  piety,  and  espe- 
cially beloved  and  honored  of  all  the  country." 

For  his  last  wife,  he  married  Martha  Coytmore,  a  member  of  our 
church,  and  widow  of  Thomas  Coytmore,  who  lost  his  life  by  ship- 
wreck, on  the  coast  of  Spain,  December  27,  1645.' 


Note  8,  page  14. 
THOMAS    DUDLEY. 

Governor  Dudley  lived  first  in  Cambridge,  but  upon  Mr.  Hooker's 
removal  to  Hartford,  he  removed  to  Ipswich,  and  at  length  fixed  his 
habitation  in  Roxbury,  where  he  died  July  31,  1653,  in  the  seventy- 
seventh  year  of  his  age.  He  was  a  man  of  great  integrity  and  strength 
of  character,  distinguished  for  his  love  of  justice,  his  zeal  for  good 
order,  and  his  attachment  to  the  faith  and  order  of  the  churches.  The 
following  verses  were  found  in  his  pocket  after  his  death ;  they  may 
further  illustrate  his  character. 

Dim  eyes,  deaf  ears,  cold  stomach  shew 

My  dissoluiiou  is  in  view; 

Eleven  limes  seven  near  lived  have  I, 

And  now  God  calls,  1  willing  die. 

My  shuttle's  shot,  my  race  is  run, 

My  sun  is  set,  my  deed  is  done  ; 

My  span  is  measured,  tale  is  told, 

My  flower  is  faded  and  grown  old. 

My  dream  is  vanish'd,  shadow's  fled, 

My  soul  with  Christ,  my  body  dead  ; 

Farewell,  dear  wife  !  children,  and  friends — 

Hate  heresy,  make  blessed  ends  ; 

Bear  poverty,  live  with  good  men, 

So  shall  we  meet  with  joy  again. 

Let  men  of  God  in  courts  and  churches  watch 
O'er  such  as  do  a  toleration  hatch. 
Lest  that  ill  egg  bring  forth  a  cockatrice, 
To  poison  all  with  heresy  and  vice. 
If  men  be  left,  and  otherwise  combine, 
My  epitaph's,  /  died  no  Libertine.^ 


Note  9,  page  15. 

JOHN  WILSON. 

Reverend  John  Wilson   was  born  at  Windsor,  1588.     He  was 
the  third    son  of  Dr.  William  Wilson,  a   prebend  of  St.  Paul's,  of 


*  For  a  more  particulaur  account  of  Governor   Winthrop,  see  Mather's  Magnalia,  and 
ivage's  Winthrop. 

*  Magnalia  I.  120.    N.  E.  Memorial,  p.  255. 


177 

Rochester,  and  of  Windsor,  and  rector  of  Cliff.  His  mother  was  a 
neice  of  Dr.  Edmund  Grindal,  archbishop  of  Canterbury.  He  received 
his  education  at  Eton  and  Cambridge.  At  the  university  he  embraced 
the  sentiments  of  the  Puritans,  and  falling  under  censure  on  this 
account,  he  was  induced  by  his  father  to  study  law,  which  he  did  for 
three  years.  His  disposition  to  enter  the  ministry  of  the  gospel,  con- 
tinuing, however,  he  was  permitted  to  return  to  the  university  in 
preparation  for  it.  The  difficulty  he  met  with  in  obtaining  ordination, 
is  said  to  have  led  him  to  express  his  desires  to  God,  in  the  following 
language  :  "  That  if  the  Lord  would  grant  him  a  liberty  of  conscience, 
with  purity  of  worship,  he  would  be  content,  yea,  thankful,  though  it 
were  at  the  furthermost  end  of  the  world."  A  most  prophetical  reso- 
lution !  says  Mather. 

Soon  after  preaching  his  first  sermon,  he  was  called  to  the  bedside 
of  his  dying  father,  where  he  kneeled,  in  his  turn,  with  her  to  whom 
he  was  engaged  in  marriage  ;  and  the  old  gentleman  blessed  him  in 
the  following  terms  :  "  Ah,  John,  I  have  taken  much  care  about  thee, 
such  time  as  thou  wast  in  the  university,  because  thou  wouldest  not 
conform  ;  I  would  fain  have  brought  thee  to  some  higher  preferment 
than  thou  hast  yet  attained  unto.  I  see  thy  conscience  is  very  scrupu- 
lous concerning  some  things  that  have  been  observed  and  imposed  in 
the  church ;  nevertheless,  I  have  rejoiced  to  see  the  grace  and  fear  of 
God  in  thy  heart,  and  seeing  thou  hast  kept  a  good  conscience  hitherto, 
and  walked  according  to  thy  light,  so  do  still,  and  go  by  the  rules  of 
God's  holy  word.  The  Lord  bless  thee,  and  her  whom  thou  hast  chosen 
to  be  the  companion  of  thy  life  !  " 

Mr.  Wilson  was  distinguished  for  the  many  and  varied  excellencies 
of  his  character.  He  was  not  only  charitable  and  generous,  but  was 
liberal  to  a  fault ;  "  he  acted,"  says  Mather,  "  as  if  the  primitive  agree- 
ment of  having  all  things  in  common,  had  been  of  all  things  most 
agreeable  unto  him."  He  was  a  staunch  friend  to  the  faith  and  order 
of  our  churches ;  and  when  one  of  another  order  was  set  up  in  Bos- 
ton, his  language  to  his  family  was,  "  I  charge  you,  that  you  do  not 
once  go  to  hear  them ;  for  whatsoever  they  may  pretend,  they  will  rob 
you  of  ordinances,  rob  you  of  your  souls,  rob  you  of  your  God."  But 
notwithstanding  the  strength  of  his  attachment  to  his  own  religious 
principles,  he  was  no  less  remarkable  for  his  affectionate  feelings.  On 
one  occasion,  when  he  was  present  at  a  great  muster  of  soldiers,  a 
gentleman  remarked  to  him,  "  Sir,  I'll  tell  you  a  great  thing  ;  here's  a 
mighty  body  of  people,  and  there  is  not  seven  of  them  all,  but  what 
loves  Mr.  Wilson  ; "  to  which  he  immediately  replied — "  Sir,  I'll  tell 
you  as  good  a  thing  as  that ;  here's  a  mighty  body  of  people,  and  there's 
not  so  much  as  one  of  them  all,  but  Mr.  Wilson  loves  him." 

In  his  younger  days,  he  was  greatly  admired  for  his  methodical 
preaching  ;  but  after  he  became  a  pastor,  and  was  associated  with 
Cotton  and  Norton,  so  distinguished  as  teachers,  he  gave  himself 
greater  latitude  in  preaching,  and  his  discourses,  which  were  upon 
texts  that  had  been  doctrinally  treated  of  by  his  colleague,  immediately 
before,  were  without  distinct  propositions,  and  consisted  chiefly  of  ex- 
hortations and  admonitions  and  good  counsels  ;  but  were,  notwithstand- 
ing, very  effective.  He  was  accustomed,  for  the  encouragement  of  the 
ministry  and  of  religion,  to  go  round  and  visit  the  congregations  of  the 
23 


178 

neighboring  towns,  at  their  weekly  lectures,  until  prevented  by  the 
weakness  of  age.  "  And  it  was  a  delightful  thing,"  says  Mather,  "  to 
see  upon  every  recurring  opportunity,  a  large  company  of  Christians, 
and  even  magistrates  and  ministers  among  them,  and  Mr.  Wilson  at 
the  head  of  them,  visiting  the  lecturers  in  all  the  vicinage,  with  such 
heavenly  discourses  on  the  road,  as  caused  the  hearts  of  the  disciples 
to  burn  within  them  ;  and  it  was  remarked,  that  though  the  Christians 
then  spent  less  time  in  the  shop,  or  field,  than  they  do  now,  yet  they 
did  in  both  prosper  more." 

Mr.  Wilson  was  emphatically  a  man  of  prayer,  and  the  answers  he 
is  said  to  have  received,  are  among  the  most  remarkable  any  where  on 
record.  The  blessings,  too,  which  he  pronounced  upon  individuals, 
seemed  prophetical  ;  in  so  much,  that  many,  and  those  of  the  most 
consideration  in  the  colony,  came  from  great  distances,  bringing  their 
children  with  them,  to  receive  his  patriarchal  benedictions.  Rev. 
Thomas  Shepard,  of  our  church,  who  composed  an  elegy  upon  him, 
and  seems  to  have  been  a  pupil  of  his,  alludes  to  this  circumstance  as 
follows : 

"  As  aged  John,  the  apostle,  us'd  to  bless 
The  people,  which  they  judged  their  happiness, 
So  we  did  count  it  worth  our  pilgrimage 
Unto  him,  for  his  blessing  in  his  age." 

Mr.  Wilson  was  famous  for  his  skill  in  making  anagrams,  which 
consisted  in  a  witty  conceit  of  transposing  the  letters  of  a  name  so  as 
to  make  a  different  word  or  sentence.  He  was  accustomed  to  make 
anagrams  upon  all  his  friends,  and  upon  the  name  of  any  remarkable 
person  he  met  with.  Such  verses  were  commonly  attached  to  the 
hearse  at  funerals ;  and  it  looked,  says  Mather,  like  a  piece  of  injus- 
tice, that  Wilson's  funeral,  among  the  many  poems  it  produced,  brought 
out  so  few  anagrams.  "  Some,"  he  says,  "  thought  the  Muses  looked 
very  much  dissatisfied,  when  they  saw  these  lines  upon  his  hearse : 

John  Wilson. 

Anagram, 
John  Wilson. 

Oh  !  change  it  not ;  no  sweeter  name  or  thing, 
Throughout  the  world,  within  our  ears  shall  rmg. 

Mr.  Ward,  the  witty  author  of  "  The  Simple  Cobler  of  Agawam," 
said  with  reference  to  Wilson's  well-known  hospitality,  that  the  ana- 
gram of  John  Wilson  was,  "  I  pray  come  in,  you  are  heartily  loelcome." 
He  died  August  7,  1G67,  in  the  seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age.^ 


See  Mather's  ftlag.  5  New  England  Memorial  3  Winthrop's  Journal,  &c. 


179 

Note  10,  page  16. 
WILLIAM   BLACKSTONE. 

Of  this  gentleman,  the  first  white  inhabitant  of  Boston,  living  alone 
there,  as  Thomas  Walford  was  on  the  Charlestown  side,  the  following 
notices  will  be  interesting. 

He  had  been  living  there  four  or  five  years  when  Winthrop  and  his 
company  arrived,  and  resided  there  about  as  long  after.  He  was  an 
Episcopal  clergyman,  who  left  England  because  he  liked  not  the 
"  Lord's  bishops  ; "  and  Boston,  afterwards,  because  he  liked  not  the 
"  Lord's  brethren." 

Mr.  Blackstone  lived  in  the  western  part  of  Boston,  where,  near  a 
spring,  he  had  built  a  cottage,  cultivated  a  garden  plot,  and  planted 
an  orchard — the  first  in  Massachusetts. 

In  the  year  1G34,  he  sold  his  property  for  £30,  each  householder 
paying  him  6s.  or  more.  With  this  he  purchased  cattle,  and  removed 
to  the  south  about  thirty-five  miles,  and  settled  near  Providence.  His 
house  was  situated  near  a  stream  called  Abbot's  Run,  on  a  knoll 
which  he  called  "  Study  Hill ;  "  it  was  surrounded  by  a  park,  which  is 
said  to  have  been  his  daily  favorite  walk.  He  died  May  26,  1675,  and 
was  buried  on  Study  Hill,  where  "  a  flat  stone  marks  his  grave."  ^ 


Note  11,  page  18. 
INHABITANTS   REMAINING  IN  CHARLESTOWN. 

In  the  month  of  September,  (28th,)  a  levy  was  imposed  upon  the 
several  plantations,  of  which  Charlestown  was  to  pay  £7,  and  Boston 
£11.  So  that  it  would  seem  the  majority  had  removed  across  the 
river  at  this  time.^ 

After  the  separation  had  taken  place,  in  the  autumn  of  1630,  we  find 
the  following  entry  made  upon  our  Town  Records. 

"  A  list  of  the  names  of  such  as  staid,  and  became  inhabitants  of 
this  town,  in  this  year  1629,^  following : 

Increase  Nowell,  Esq.,       William  Hudson,  Ezekiel  Richeson, 

Mr.  William  Aspinwall,       Mr.  John  Glover,  John  Baker, 

Mr,  Richard  Palsgrave,       William    Brakenburry,       John  Sales. 
Edward  Converse,  Rice  Cole, 

William  Penn,  Hugh  Garrett, 

Capt.  Norton,  "^ 

Mr.  Edward  Gibbons,      I       These  four  went  and  built  in  themaine,on  the  north- 
Mr.  William  Jennino-S,  |  east  side  of  the  northwest  creek  of  this  town." 
John  Abignall,  J 

»  2  IVIass.  Hist.  Coll.  x.  170.  Savage's  Winthrop,  I.  p.  44.-2  Prince,  p.  318.— 3  1630,  it 
should  be.     See  Note  5. 


180 

Note  12,  page  18. 

MRS.  WILSON. 

The  object  of  Mr.  Wilson's  return  to  England,  was  to  persuade  his 
wife  to  accompany  him,  which  he  could  not  do  when  he  first  came. 
He  seems  to  have  failed,  however,  in  this  second  endeavor,  as  we 
learn  from  the  followincr  extract  of  a  letter  written  by  Margaret  Win- 
throp,  to  her  son,  in  May  or  June,  1631.  "Mr,  Wilson  is  now  in 
London,  and  promised  me  to  come  and  see  you.  He  cannot  yet  per- 
suade his  wife  to  go,  for  all  he  hath  taken  this  pains  to  come  and  fetch 
her.  I  marvel  what  mettle  she  is  made  of  Sure,  she  will  yield  at 
last,  or  else  we  shall  want  him  exceedingly  in  New  England."  Mr. 
Wilson  made  another  visit  to  England  in  1635,  and  his  wife  probably 
returned  with  him  at  that  time.  After  Mrs.  Wilson  had  been  per- 
suaded to  accompany  her  husband  into  the  American  wilderness, 
Mather  says  he  heard  that  she  received  for  her  consolation,  a  curious 
present  from  her  kinsman,  old  Mr.  Dod.  "  He  sent  her  at  the  same 
time,  a  brass  counter,  a  silver  crown,  and  a  gold  jacobus  ;  all  of  them 
severally  wrapped  up,  with  this  instruction  to  the  gentleman  that  car- 
ried it :  that  he  should,  first  of  all,  deliver  only  the  counter;  and  if 
she  received  it  with  any  show  of  discontent,  he  should  then  take  no 
further  notice  of  her  ;  but  if  she  gratefully  resented  that  small  thing, 
for  the  sake  of  the  hand  it  came  from,  he  should  then  go  on  to  deliver 
the  silver,  and  so  the  gold;  but  withal,  assure  her,  '  That  such  would 
be  the  dispensations  of  God  unto  her,  and  the  other  good  people  of 
New  England  :  if  they  would  be  content  and  thankful  with  such  little 
things,  as  God  at  first  bestowed  upon  them,  they  should,  in  time,  have 
silver  and  gold  enough.'  Mrs.  Wilson,  accordingly,  by  her  cheerful 
entertainment  of  the  least  remembrance  from  good  old  Mr.  Dod,  gave 
the  gentleman  occasion  to  go  through  with  his  whole  present,  and  the 
annexed  advice,  which  hath  in  a  good  measure  been  accomplished."  ^ 


Note  13,  page  21. 
NEW  AND  OLD  STYLE. 

According  to  the  old  style,  the  length  of  the  year  was  computed  to 
be  365  days  and  6  hours  ;  so  that  every  fourth  year — called  bissextile 
or  leap  year — when  the  6  hours  amounted  to  24,  an  additional  day  was 
reckoned,  and  the  year  made  to  consist  of  366  days. 

But  this  method  of  computing  time  was  erroneous,  because  the 
length  of  the  year  was  not  365  days  and  6  hours,  but  365  days,  5  hours, 
48  minutes,  49  5.7  ;  so  that  by  the  old  style,  the  year  was  reckoned  11 
minutes,  and  10.7  seconds  too  long. 

The  old  style  commenced  in  the  45th  year  before  Christ,  and  was 
introduced  by  Julius  Cesar,  from  whom  it  has  received  the  name  of  the 

1  See  Mather  I.  2S1.     Winthrop  I.  332. 


181 

Julian  Calendar.  In  the  third  century  of  the  Christian  Era,  there  was 
no  difference  between  the  two  methods  of  computing  time,  or  would 
have  been  none,  had  the  new  style  been  used  then.  But  at  the  close 
of  that  century,  the  difference  of  the  styles  was  one  day,  and  increased 
a  day  in  about  12S  years ;  so  that  in  15^2,  when  Pope  Gregory  XIII. 
introduced  the  new  style,  the  old  style  had  fallen  behind  10  days. 
Gregory,  accordingly,  ordered  that  10  days  be  omitted  from  the  reck- 
oning, so  that  the  day  after  October  4,  of  that  year,  be  called  October 
15,  and  made  provisions  against  the  accumulation  of  errors  for  the 
future.  The  Gregorian  rule  by  which  this  correction  is  effected,  is  as 
follows:  "Every  year  whose  number  is  not  divisible  by  4,  without 
remainder,  consists  of  305  days — every  year  which  is  so  divisible,  but 
is  not  divisible  by  100  of  366 — every  year  divisible  by  100,  but  not  by 
400,  again  of  365 — and  every  year  divisible  by  400,  of  306.  For  ex- 
ample, the  year  1845,  not  being  divisible  by  4,  consists  of  365  days;\ 
1848  of  366;  1800  and  1900  of  365  each  ;  but  2000  of  366."  By 
this  simple  rule,  the  calendar  may  be  preserved  from  any  perceptible 
variation  for  thousands  of  years. 

But  this  was  only  a  part  of  the  change  effected  by  the  introduction 
of  the  new  style.     It  changed  the  period  for  the  year  to  commence. 

According  to  the  old  style,  the  year  began  on  the  25th  March, 
which  was  Lady  day,  or  Annunciation,  in  commemoration  of  the  event 
recorded  Luke  i.  26-38.  But  by  the  new  style,  it  was  made  to  begin 
on  the  1st  day  of  January.  This  will  explain  at  once  the  use  of  double 
dates,  which  were  common,  and  indeed  necessary  during  the  period  of 
transition  from  one  style  to  the  other.  It  was  customary  to  give  two 
dates  for  the  days  that  occurred  between  the  1st  of  January  and  the 
25th  of  March  ;  e.  g.  February  9,  1717-18,  i.  e.,  1717,  old  style,  when 
the  year  ended  in  March ;  and  1718,  new  style,  when  it  began  in  Jan- 
uary. Thus,  according  to  the  old  style,  January  was  the  11th  month, 
and  February  the  12th,  while  September,  October,  November,  Decem- 
ber were,  as  their  names  import,  the  7th,  8th,  9th,  10th.  Double  dates 
are  given  on  our  church  records,  during  the  months  of  January,  Feb- 
ruary and  March,  from  the  commencement  of  the  century,  as  1700-1, 
down  to  1752,  as  1751-2,  when  the  new  style  became  legal  and 
universal. 

The  change  of  style  which  took  place  in  Catholic  countries  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  sixteenth  century,  through  the  influence  of  the  Pope, 
was  not  adopted  in  England  and  its  colonies,  until  1752,  when,  by  act  of 
Parliament,  it  was  ordered  that  1 1  days — the  difference  between  the 
styles  amounting  to  that  after  1700— be  omitted  in  the  calendar,  so  that 
the  day  following  the  2d  of  September  of  that  year,  should  be  called 
September  14,  agreeably  to  the  new  style. 

From  the  above  remarks,  it  is  obvious,  that  to  reduce  old  style  to 
new,  it  is  necessary  simply  to  add  10  days,  if  the  date  is  of  the  16th  or 
17th  century  ;  11  days,  if  the  date  be  of  the  18th  century,  and  12,  if 
the  date  be  of  the  present  century,  as  is  the  case  with  Russian  dates. 
Care  must  also  be  taken  to  give  double  dates,  or  specify  which  style  is 
used  in  recording  the  dates  of  events  occurring  between  1st  January 
and  25th  March,  when  the  difference  of  style  was,  as  explained  above, 
one  whole  year.  e.  g.  This  church  was  organized  2d  day  of  the  9th 
month,  1632,  old  style  ;  or,  November  12,  1632,  new  style.     The  first 


182 

baptism  was  that  of  the  pastor's  son,  John  James,  11th  month,  9th  day, 
1632,  old  style  ;  or,  January  9,  1633,  new  style.  In  the  course  of  this 
work  I  have  not  preserved  the  double  dates,  but  have  given  the  one 
which  makes  the  year  begin  with  January. 

I  should  not  have  thought  it  necessary  to  be  thus  particular  in 
explaining  the  difference  of  the  styles,  after  so  much  has  been  written 
upon  it,  were  it  not  evident  that  mistakes  are  still  made  in  regard  to  it. 

It  has  been  customary  to  add  11  days  in  changing  old  style  into  new 
style,  without  regard  to  the  century  to  which  the  date  belongs.  This 
was  indeed  the  difference  between  the  styles  in  the  last  century  ;  but  it 
was  only  10  days  in  the  two  preceding  centuries,  e.  g.  Washington 
was  born  February  11,  1732,  old  style;  and  we  rightly  observe  the 
anniversary  of  his  birth  on  the  22d  of  February,  for  the  difference  of 
styles  was  11  days  during  the  whole  of  the  last  century.  The  Pilgrims 
landed  on  Plymouth  Rock,  Monday,  December  11,'  1620,  old  style; 
and  it  is  an  error  to  commemorate  the  anniversary  of  this  event  on 
December  22,  because  the  difference  of  the  styles  was  then  10,  and 
not  11  days. 

It  has  surprised  me  much,  to  find  the  same  error  committed  in  the 
inscription  placed  upon  the  monument  erected  to  the  memory  of  Har- 
vard, in  our  burying-ground,  by  the  alumni  of  the  college.  Harvard 
died  September  14,  163S,  old  style,  as  we  learn  from  Dantbrth's  Alma- 
nac for  1649,  printed  at  Cambridge,  a  copy  of  which  is  in  possession 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Sewall,  of  Burlington.  Gov.  Everett,  in  his  "  address 
delivered  at  the  erection  of  a  monument  to  John  Harvard,  September 
26,  1828,"  says,  "  He  died  on  the  14th  September,  of  the  year  follow- 
ing his  arrival,  corresponding  in  the  new  style,  to  the  26th  of  Septem- 
ber." This  date,  accordingly,  is  inscribed  upon  the  granite  shafl 
erected  to  his  memory,  as  the  date  of  his  death. 

But  with  deference  to  the  eminent  authority  of  the  gentlemen  con- 
cerned, may  it  not  be  said  that  this  is  evidently  a  mistake  ? 

It  will  be  admitted,  that  at  the  time  when  Harvard  died,  there  was 
a  difference  of  10  days  between  the  reckoning  of  the  old  style  and  of 
the  new  ;  in  other  words,  that  the  day  on  which  Harvard  died,  which 
was  called  in  New  England  September  14th,  was  reckoned  in  Rome, 
and  in  all  countries  where  the  new  style  prevailed,  September  24th, 
Harvard  did  not  die,  therefore,  September  26,  1638,  new  style,  unless 
that  style,  as  then  reckoned  in  Catholic  countries,  was  incorrectly  com- 
puted, which  never  has  been  maintained. 

Perhaps  it  will  be  said,  that  although  the  difference  of  styles  was 
only  10  days  in  the  seventeenth  century,  it  -has  now  increased  to  12 
days.  If  this  be  true,  the  inscription  upon  the  monument  will  still  be 
incorrect,  for  it  declares  that  Harvard  died  September  26,  1638,  which 
was  two  days  later  than  his  death  upon  any  supposition.     But  besides 

1  Bradford  and  Winslow*s  journal,  as  published  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Young,  in  his  valuable 
"  Chronicles  of  Ihe  I'ilgriiTis,"  gives  the  date  of  Monday  as  December  12,  or  the  Saturday 
preceding,  as  December  10.  p.  161.  If  this  were  the  true  date,  December  22  would  be  the 
anniversary  of  the  ever  memorable  landing.  But  it  is  obviously  a  mistake,  as  will  appear 
from  a  comparison  of  the  preceding  and  succeeding  dates  given  in  the  journal— Wednesday 
being  mentioned  as  December  6,  while  Saturday  is  given  as  December  10.  Prince,  quoting 
Bradford,  gives  the  right  dale  for  Monday,  December  1 1.  The2lst  of  December,  therefore, 
is  the  anniversary  of  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  on  Plymouth  Rock,  the  2"2d  having  been 
fixed  upon  on  the  erroneous  supposition  that  it  corresponds  to  December  11,  old  style. 


183 

this,  it  is  obviously  a  mistaken  notion,  that  after  a  date  of  the  17th  or 
18th  century  has  been  changed  to  the  new  style  in  those  centuries,  by 
adding  10  or  11  days,  any  new  correction  is  demanded  for  errors 
accumulated  since.  No  such  errors  can  be  accumulated  by  the  new 
style,  but  only  by  the  old,  which  reckons  one  more  leap  year  in  four 
centuries  than  does  the  new  style.  February  22,  1832,  is  just  one 
hundred  years  after  February  22,  1732,  new  style,  or  February  11, 
1732,  old  style.  If  it  were  not  so,  we  ought  now  to  observe  the  anni- 
versary of  Washington's  birthday,  February  23d,  on  the  supposition 
that  there  are  12  days  difference  now  between  new  and  old  style,  which 
is  plainly  absurd.  Just  so,  September  24,  183S,  is  the  second  cen- 
tennial anniversary  of  Harvard's  death,  being  exactly  two  hundred  years 
after  September  24,  1638,  new  style,  or  September  14,  1638,  old  style. 
I  find  these  views  corroborated  in  a  brief  but  lucid  note  appended  to 
Professor  Kingsley's  discourse,  on  the  second  centennial  anniversary  of 
the  settlement  of  New  Haven.  See  also  a  full  and  accurate  explana- 
tion of  new  and  old  style,  and  double  dating,  by  Rev.  Samuel  Sewall, 
of  Burlington,  in  the  American  Quarterly  Register,  vol.  xiv.  p.  254. 


Note  14,  page  21. 

THE  RECORDS  AND  COMPARATIVE  AGE  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

The  following  very  accurate  and  minute  description  of  the  first 
volume  of  our  church  records,  was  drawn  up  with  great  labor  by  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Sewall,  for  the  American  Quarterly  Register,  volume  xii., 
page  247. 

The  Records  of  this  Church  are,  it  is  believed,  the  only  records  in  exist- 
ence of  any  church  in  the  County  of  Middlesex  formed  as  early  as  the  seven- 
teenth century,  which  have  been  kept  in  regular,  and  (in  the  main)  unbroken 
series  from  the  beginning,  except  the  records  of  the  Church  of  Lexington, 
gathered  1696.  The  Church  of  South  Reading,  (fonnerly  First  Church, 
Reading,)  gathered  1645,  has  some  very  ancient  records,  but  they  are  not 
entire  ;  nor  do  they  reach  quite  back  to  its  foundation. 

This  precious  relic  of  antiquity  is  a  small  quarto  volume  of  386  pages,  of 
which  381  are  numbered.  Of  these,  the  first  357  pages  are  occupied  by  the 
Title,  Table  of  Contents,  Covenants,  Admissions  to  the  Church,  Owners  of 
the  Covenant,  Baptisms,  and  Marriages  solemnized  by  Mr.  Morton.  The 
remaining  pages,  commencing  with  the  last  page,  (the  book  being  inverted,) 
are  appropriated  to  recording  Church  votes,  censures,  the  choice  and  ordina- 
tions of  Church  officers,  (as  pastors  and  deacons,)  &c.,  though  several  of  the 
last  named  matters  of  record  are  inserted  among  the  Admissions. 

Subjoined  are  copies  or  accounts  of  some  interesting  matters  of  record, 
contained  in  this  venerable  volume. 

I.    The   Title. 

"  The  book  that  belongs  unto  the  Church  of  God  in  Charltowne :  which 
Church  was  gathered,  and  did  enter  into  Church  Covenant  the  2d.  day  of  the 
9th.  month  1632." — Elder  Green,  1st  page  of  blank  leaf  at  the  beginning. 


184 


II.     "  The    Contents. 

*'  1631.     The  names  of  those  who  did  Enter  into  ye  Covenant  first,     .     p.     1 
"  The  Covenant   to  particular  persons  for  their  Consent,  when 

they  are  to  be  adinitttd 2 

"  1632.     Names  of  persons  admitted 3 

"  lti32.     Names  of  the  Baptized 201 

"1665.     Names  of  ye  Baptized  as  have  publiquely  renewed  Cove- ^ 

nant  with  God  &  this  Church,   yet  not  taken  into  >        101 
Communion  in  ye  Lord's  Supper  ) 

"1677.     Names  of  such  as  have  been  admitted  into  this  Church,)        ,yq 
but  not  unto  full  Communion  ^ 

"1658.     Church  Censures   &  Votes  past  in  Weigty'M    ,,       p  ,q  of 
(Weighty)    "Cases    by    this    Church   of  >       ^  ,      , 
Christ  at  Charles  Town  )     •' 

^'  1687.     Names  of  persons  Married  by  y"  minister       283" 

Mr.  Morton,  1st  page  of  blank  leaf  at  beginning. 

The  above  Table  of  Contents  is  in  the  hand  writing  of  Mr.  Morton,  who 
was  the  first  and  the  only  minister  that  recorded  marriages  in  this  book. 
Before  his  day,  ministers  in  this  country  were  not  authorized  to  solemnize 
marriages.  It  is  remarkable,  that  he  should  have  prefixed  the  date  '  1631 '  to 
the  two  first  articles  of  record,  when,  according  to  the  title  of  the  book  just 
above  it,  the  Church  was  not  gathered  till  1632. 

III.     "  The  Names  of  those  who  did  enter  into  the  Covenant  first. 


"  Increase,  Parnel,  Nowell. 

"  Tho:,  Christian,  Beeclier. 

"  Abra;,  Grace,  Palmer. 

"  Ralph,  Jone,  Sprague. 

"  Edward,  Sarah,  Convers. 

"  Nicholas,  Amy,  Slowers. 

"  Ezek:,  Susan,  Kicheson. 

"  Henery,  Elizabeth,  HarwooJ. 

"  Robert,  Jone,  Hale. 

"  Geo:,  Margerit,  Hucheson. 

"Tho:,  Elizab:,  James. 

"  William,  Ann:,  Frothingam. 

"  Ralph,  Alice,  Mousall. 

"  Rice,  Arrold,  Cole. 

"  Richard,  Mary,  Sprague. 

"John,  Bethiah,  Haule. 

"  William  Uade. 

"Thomas  Minor. 

"  Thomas  Squire. 

The  forme  of  the  Covenant, 

"  In  the  Name  of  o'-  Lord  God,  and  in 
obedience  to  his  holy  will  and  divine  ordi- 
nances. 

"  Wee  whose  names  are  heer  written 
Beeing  by  his  most  wise  and   good  provi- 
dence brought   together,   and    desirous    to 
unite   or-   selus   into   one    Congregation    or 
Church,  under  o'-  Lord   Jesus   Christ   our 
Head  :     In  such  sort  as  becometh  all  those 
whom   he   hath    Redeemed   and   Sanctified 
unto    himselfe,    Doe    heer    Sollemnly    and 
Ueligeously   as   in  his  most  holy  presence, 
Promice  and  bynde  o'-  selus  to  walke  in  all 
or-   wayes   according  to  the    Rules   of  the 
Gospell,  and  in  all  sinceer  conformity  to  his 
holy  Ordinances  ;  and  in  mutuall  Love  and 
Respect  each  to  other  :  so  near  as  God  shall 
give  us  grace." 

"  These   were   dismissed    from    Boston 
Church  the  14th  of  the  eaight  moneth  1G32." 

Page  \st. 

IV.  Admissions. 

Among  the  Admissions  to  this  church  recorded  in  this  book,  are  those  of 
almost  all  its  ministers  before  Mr.  Paine,  ordained  in  1787,  (when  a  new  vol- 
ume had  been  substituted),  and  also  of  many  others,  both  clergymen  and 
laymen,  who  were  men  of  eminence  in  their  day. 

Subjoined  is  the  sum  of  admissions  to  full  communion  in  this  church  down 
to  the  year  1768,  as  recorded  in  this  first  volume  of  its  records.  The  occa- 
sional omission  of  given  names  in  the  records,  or  the  occurrence  of  such  as 


185 

Faintnot,  Suretrust,  Gardy,  Manes,  Menry,  RandoU,  Shippy,  has  rendered  it 
impossible,  in  a  few  instances,  to  determine  with  certainty  the  sex  of  the 
members  referred  to. 


Aggregate  of  Admissions, 


Recorded  hy 
The  Ruling  Elder  from  lf532 

Mr.  Symmes,  " 

Mr.  Shepard,  sen 
I\lr.  Shepard,  juii. 
Mr.  Morton, 
Mr.  Biadstreet, 
Mr.  Abbot, 


rears. 

Males. 

Females. 

Uncertain. 

Tnlal. 

If532    to     If^56, 

136 

189 

9 

334 

1633     "     KiiiO, 

8 

11 

1 

20 

1660    "     1677, 

54 

112 

0 

166 

i{;30   "    i6n.5, 

20 

40 

0 

CO 

]6;;6     "     1697, 

27 

41 

1 

69 

1693    "     17:^1, 

141 

351 

0 

492 

1731     "     1768, 

128 

305 

2 

435 

514  1,049  13         1,576 


The  largest  number  of  admissions  in  any  one  year,  recorded  in  this 
ancient  volume,  was  in  1741,  the  period  of  the  revivals  in  tiie  time  of  White- 
field.  In  that  year,  GO  persons  were  admitted.  In  l(i3i),  there  were  38 
admissions;  in  1652,  .30  admissions;  in  1714,  25  admissions;  and  in  1728, 
the  year  after  "  the  Great  Earthquake,"  October  29,  1727,  there  were  65 
admissions.  During-  the  same  year,  (viz.  1728,)  a  corresponding  increased 
attention  to  religion,  and  extraordinary  additions  to  the  churches,  were 
observable  very  generally  throughout  New  England.  On  the  other  hand,  in 
1649,  1651,  1653,  1654,  1663,  and  1(j93,  no  addition  to  First  Church  Charles- 
town,  are  found  upon  record. 

Before  1663,  all  admissions  to  this  church  were  understood  to  be  admis- 
sions to  all  the  privileges  of  church  members.  But  the  adoption  by  the 
church  that  year,  of  the  Result  of  the  Synod  of  1662,  respecting  Baptism, 
&c.,  led  to  a  threefold  distinction  of  its  members  in  the  subsequent  arrange- 
ments of  its  records  ;  viz., 

1.  "  Persons  admitted  into  full  Communion." 

2.  "The  names  of  such  Children  of  the  Covenant  as  have  publickly 
renew'd  their  Covenant  wih  God  and  this  Church,  yet  not  taken  unto  Com- 
munion in  ye  Ld3-  Supp." — p.  101. 

3.  "  The  names  of  such  persons  as  have  been  admitted  into  this  Church, 
but  not  unto  full  Communion." — p.  1 79. 

By  the  second  distinction,  persons  appear  to  have  been  intended,  who 
having  in  infancy  been  offered  in  baptism  by  their  parents,  being  church 
members,  were  considered  as  virtually  members  of  the  church  themselves, 
and  subject  to  its  inspection  and  discipline;  and  who  owning  the  covenant  at 
mature  age,  were  admitted  to  the  privilege  of  baptism  for  their  children,  but 
not  as  yet  to  the  Lord's  Table. 

By  the  third  distinction,  all  other  persons  were  apparently  denoted,  who 
owning  the  covenant,  were  taken  under  the  watch  and  discipline  of  the 
church-,  and  obtained  in  it  the  privilege  of  baptism  for  themselves  and  their 
children,  but  did  not  commune  in  the  Lord's  supper. 

Apparently  however,  both  these  distinctions  were  sometimes  confounded  in 
recording,  especially  by  Mr.  Morton ;  and  his  successors.  Rev.  Messrs.  Brad- 
street  and  Abbot,  recorded  the  names  of  persons  of  both  descriptions,  with- 
out discrimination,  under  the  common  title  of  "  Renewers  of  the  Covenant." 

V.  Baptisms. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  memorandum  respecting  the  number  of  bap- 
tisms in  this  church,  entered  at  the  close  of  the  book,  p.  381,  apparently  by 
Mr.  Abbot. 

24 


186 


^^  Memorandum,  taken  )il  Aug.  1771. 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  Gordon  who  came  from  London,  came  to  visit  me  on  the 
day  abovesaid  and  borrowed  the  Ch.  Books,  that  he  might  find  by  the  Bap- 
tisms, the  Proportion  of  Males  to  Females,  that  had  been  born  among  us. 
And  upon  search  he  found  them  equal  from  the  Year  1639,  when  the  Old 
Book  was  begun.  And  from  that  year  to  the  present  year  1771  according  to 
his  Calculation  there  were  2889  males,  and  2889  females  baptized.  N.  B.  he 
found  a  Chasm  in  the  Records,  wherein  no  Entries  were  made  of  the  Chil- 
dren Baptiz'd  for  17  years.  This  Acc^  he  gave  me,  when  he  return'd  the 
Books  unto  me." 

Subjoined  is  the  result  of  an  enumeration  by  the  writer  of  this  article,  of 
the  baptisms  recorded  in  the  "  Old  Book"  alone:  premising,  that  the  occur- 
rence in  the  records  of  unusual  given  names  has  sometimes  left  the  sex  of 
the  persons  baptized  undetermined  ;  and  that  the  occasional  omission  both  of 
names  and  of  numbers  has  in  a  few  other  instances  made  it  uncertain  how 
many  were  baptized.  In  cases  of  the  latter  description,  the  smallest  number 
possible,  under  the  circumstances  given,  has  been  assumed  as  the  true  one. 

Sum  of  Baptisms. 


Unc. 

Unc. 

Recorded  bij 

Years. 

Males. 

Females. 

IVo. 

Sez. 

Total.  Infants.  Jldulls, 

The  Killing  Elder  from  1633    to     1642, 

81 

82 

0 

0 

163 

163 

0 

Blr.  Symmes,              " 

1658     "     1663, 

5 

6 

5 

5 

16 

16 

0 

Mr.  Shepard,  sen.      " 

1659     "     1677, 

301 

274 

0 

0 

575 

669 

6 

Mr.  Sliepardjun.      " 

1680     "     1685, 

135 

149 

14 

14 

298 

286 

12 

Mr.  Morion,                " 

16;-;6    "    1697, 

"285 

3.38 

0 

0 

623 

562 

CI 

JVlr.  Bradstreet,         " 

1698     "     1731, 

95^2 

944 

0 

0 

1,896 

1,792 

104 

Mr.  Abbot,                " 

1731     "     1768, 

1,093 

1,075 

0 

6 

2,173 

2,132 

41 

Total  recorded  during- 

135  years. 

2,852 

2,868 

19 

24 

6,744 

5,520 

224 

In  the  above  schedule  of  baptisms,  all  have  been  reckoned  among  adults, 
who  are  noticed  expressly  as  being  "  young  men,"  wives,  widows,  persons  of 
14  years  old  and  upwards,  or  wliose  names  are  given  alone,  without  the 
names  of  their  parents,  as  well  as  those  who  are  expressly  called  adults.  All 
are  accounted  as  "  Infants,"  who  are  said  to  be  the  sons  or  daughters  or  chil- 
dren of  such,  or  of  such  parents ;  both  those  whose  age  is  stated  to  be  less 
than  14,  and  those  whose  age  is  not  mentioned,  and  who  constitute  more  than 
nineteen-twentieths  of  the  whole.  The  earliest  adult  baptism  recorded  in 
this  ancient  volume,  that  has  been  observed,  was  in  1673. 

Perhaps  I  shall  find  no  more  appropriate  place  to  make  a  few 
remarks  respecting  the  seniority  of  our  churches. 

The  first  church  of  Plymouth  was  gathered  in  1602,  or  in  1606,^ 
when  the  original  church  became  two.  This  church  removed,  after  its 
organization,  to  Holland,  and  thence  to  Plymouth ;  and  although  the 
majority  of  the  church,  with  their  pastor,  John  Robinson,  remained  in 
Holland,  yet  it  was  determined  that  "  those  who  go  first,  should  be 
an  absolute  church  of  themselves,  as  well  as  those  that  stay ;  with  this 
proviso,  that  as  any  go  over  or  return,  they  shall  be  reputed  as  mem- 
bers, without  further  dismission  or  testimonial;  and  those  who  tarry 
to  follow  the  rest  as  soon  as  they  can."'^  This  was  obviously  not  an 
organization  of  a  new  church,  but  a  temporary  arrangement,  created 
by  the  exigency  of  their  situation,  and  designed  to  cease  with  it. 

The  first  church  of  Salem  was  organized  August  6,  1G29. 

1  Prince,  100.  *  Young's  Chronicles,  77. 


187 

The  first  church  of  Dorchester  was  organized  in  Jannary,  1630/  in 
the  New  Hospital  at  Plymouth,  in  England.  They  set  sail  March,  and 
settled  in  Dorchester,  in  June,  the  same  year.  In  1G35,  however,  this 
church  removed  to  Connecticut,  and  settled  the  town  of  Windsor. 
The  present  first  church  of  Dorchester  was  formed  August  23,  1036. 

On  the  30th  July,  1630,  church  covenants  were  formed  and  sub- 
scribed in  Charlestown  and  Watertown. 

The  Charlestown  church,  with  their  pastor,  Rev.  John  Wilson,  soon 
held  their  meetings  in  Boston.  The  present  first  church  of  Charles- 
town was  formed  from  the  Boston  church,  November  2,  1632.  The 
writers  upon  our  early  history,  before  Mr.  Savage,^  have  represented 
our  church  as  being  the  original,  and  the  Boston  church  as  the  off- 
shoot.    But  this  is  disproved  by  the  records  of  the  respective  churches. 

The  church  in  Roxbury  was  gathered  in  1632,  and  another  in 
Lynn  the  same  year  ;  the  last,  however,  was  reorganized  a  few  years 
after. 

The  church  in  Cambridge  was  organized  October  11,  1633  ;  but  in 
1636,  they  went  with  their  pastor,  Mr.  Hooker,  as  the  Dorchester 
people  had  done,  to  Connecticut,  and  settled  the  town  of  Hartford. 
The  present  first  church  of  Cambridge  was  formed  Feburary  1,  1636. 

From  the  above,  it  will  appear  that  the  order  of  the  churches,  in 
respect  of  age,  is  as  follows:  1.  Plymouth;  2  Salem;  3.  Windsor, 
Connecticut ;  4.  Boston  and  Watertown ;  6.  Roxbury  ;  7.  Charles- 
town ;  8.  Hartford,  Connecticut.  After  these,  come,  9.  Ipswich,  1634; 
10.  Newbury,  1635;  11.  Weymouth,  1635,  July;  12.  Hingham,  1635, 
September;  13.  Cambridge,  February,  1636;  14.  Concord,  1636, 
July  ;    15.  Dorchester,  August,  1636. 


Note  15,  page  22. 

THE  NEW  ENGLAND  VERSION  OF  THE  PSALMS. 

The  version  of  Psalms,  commonly  used  by  the  Fathers  of  New 
England  in  public  worship,  was  that  by  Sternhold  and  Hopkins,  which 
was  printed  at  the  end  of  their  Bibles.  With  this  translation  they 
were  dissatisfied,  because  it  altered  in  so  many  instances,  both  the  tex^ 
and  sense  of  the  inspired  Psalmist;  and  it  was  agreed  upon,  therefore, 
by  the  magistrates  and  ministers,  that  a  new  version  should  be  pre- 
pared. The  chief  divines  of  the  country  took  each  of  them  a  portion 
to  translate ;  but  Mr.  Welde  and  Mr.  Eliot  of  Roxbury,  and  Mr. 
Mather  of  Dorchester,  were  the  responsible  editors  of  the  work. 
Their  poetic  ability,  however,  seems  not  to  have  met  with  general 
commendation ;  Mr.  Shepard  of  Cambridge,  addressed  to  them  the 
following  lines  : 

"  You  Roxbury  poets,  keep  clear  of  the  crime, 

Of  missing  to  give  us  very  good  rhyme. 

And  you  of  Dorchester,  your  verses  lengthen, 

But  with  the  text's  own  words,  you  will  them  strengthen.^' 

»  1  Hist.  CkJl.  V.  166,  and  ix.  148.  *  Wintiurop  i.  94. 


188 

This  version  was  printed  at  Cambridge,  1G40,  and  was  the  first  book 
published  in  New  England.  The  first  thing  which  was  printed  was 
the  freeman's  oath  ;  the  next  was  an  Almanac,  made  for  New  England, 
by  Mr.  William  Peirce,  mariner;  the  next  was  the  New  Version  of  the 
Psalms.  The  work  being  thought,  however,  to  require  "  a  little  more 
art,"  it  was  committed  to  Mr.  Dunster,  president  of  Harvard  College, 
whose  edition  was  in  use  among  our  churches  till  supplanted  by  Watts. 

The  great  characteristic  of  the  New  England  version,  was  an  exact 
conformity  to  the  original  Hebrew  and  Greek.  "  I  must  confess,"  says 
Mather,  "  that  the  Psalms  have  never  yet  seen  a  translation,  that  I 
know  of,  nearer  to  the  Hebrew  original."  Mr.  Prince,  who,  at  the 
request  of  the  Old  South  church,  prepared  a  revised  edition  of  the  work 
in  1757,  says  in  his  preface  of  the  original  authors,  that  "  they  not 
only  had  the  happiness  of  approaching  nearer  to  the  inspired  original, 
than  all  other  versions  in  English  rhyme ;  but  in  many  places  of  excel- 
ling them  in  simplicity  of  style,  and  in  affecting  terms,  being  the  words 
of  God,  which  more  strongly  touch  the  soul ;  on  which  accounts,  I 
found  in  England,  it  was  by  some  eminent  congregations  preferred  to 
all  others  in  their  public  worship,  even  down  to  1717,  when  I  last  left; 
that  part  of  the  British  kingdom."  Still,  it  must  be  confessed,  not- 
withstanding its  correctness  as  a  translation,  and  the  occasional  excel- 
lence of  its  style,  that  it  has  but  little  beauty  or  elegance,  and  that 
many  of  the  lines  are  filled  out  with  insignificant  particles  which  gen- 
erally enfeeble  the  style. 

This  version  was  long  in  use  among  our  churches — having  passed 
through  more  than  twenty  editions — and  was  reluctantly  exchanged  by 
some  congregations  only  after  the  American  Revolution. 

The  church  of  Plymouth  used  Ainsworth's  version,  and  did  not 
adopt  the  New  England  version  till  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth 
century.' 

It  was  the  practice  for  one  of  the  officers  of  the  church  to  read  the 
hymns  and  give  out  the  tune.  Sometimes  other  persons  were  desig- 
nated to  perform  this  duty.  March  7,  1731,  it  was  voted  by  the  town, 
"  that  Mr.  Stephen  Badger,  Jr.,  be  desired  to  read  and  set  the  Psalms 
in  the  meeting-house,  in  the  time  of  public  worship.  Then  voted  that 
Mr.  Badger  be  excused  his  poll-tax  so  long  as  he  officiates  in  said 
work." 


Note  10,  page  30. 

THE  SPIRIT  OF  THE   PURITANS. 

I  DO  not  flatter  myself  that  the  imperfect  account  I  have  given  of  the 
origin  and  character  of  the  Puritans,  will  commend  itself  to  all  as 
being  just  even  as  far  as  it  goes.  It  is  not  an  easy  matter,  at  any  time, 
to  portray  the  character  of  a  body  of  men  who  have  originated  some 
great  movement;  much  less  is  it  so,  while  that  movement  is  still  felt, 
and  its  final  issues  are  yet  unknown.     Another  difficulty  in  the  way  of 

1  IMagualia  i.  307.  1  Hist.  Coll.  vii.  xix.  and  viii.  10.  Winthrop  i.  289.  Wisner's  Hist. 
O.  S.  chuich,  p.  99. 


189 

forming  a  just  estimate  of  the  Puritan  character,  arises,  I  apprehend, 
from  the  great  diversity  of  views  which  prevailed  in  their  own  ranks. 
They  were,  it  is  important  to  remember,  the  reforming  party  of  the 
church,  embracing  ahnost  every  shade  of  opinion  from  those  who 
were  ready  to  conform  in  all,  or  nearly  all  particulars,  to  those  whose 
conscientious  scruples  were  so  numerous  and  powerful  as  to  make 
them  sympathize  with  the  Separatists,  who  denounced  the  whole 
English  church,  like  the  Roman,  as  anti-Christian,  We  doubt  not, 
therefore,  that  there  was  a  wide  diversity  of  views  in  the  Puritan 
party,  ranging  from  high  views  of  church  authority  on  the  one  hand, 
to  a  near  alliance  with  rigid  separation  on  the  other ;  and  this  diversity 
affords  to  partizan  writers  materials  for  the  most  opposite  representa- 
tions. But  it  should  be  carefully  borne  in  mind,  that  the  Puritans,  as 
a  body,  were  friends — earnest  and  cordial  friends  of  the  church  of 
England.  They  held  to  its  articles  of  doctrinal  belief  without  excep- 
tion— they  would  have  submitted  to  the  essential  parts  of  its  discipline 
and  worship,  and  might  have  been  retained  as  the  most  energetic  and 
self-denying  members  of  the  church,  at  the  expense  of  the  abolition  of 
a  few  forms,  not  at  all  essential  in  themselves,  and  important  only  as 
test  questions  of  obedience  to  authority  in  matters  of  religion  not  sus- 
tained by  the  word  of  God,  and  as  a  tyrannical  interference,  therefore, 
with  liberty  of  conscience. 

The  Puritans  were  not  only  distinct  from  the  Separatists,  but  main- 
tained spirited  controversies  with  them.  The  Separatists  and  Puritans 
were  agreed  in  receiving  the  doctrinal  articles  of  the  church  of  Eng- 
land, and  in  opposing  certain  ceremonies  of  worship,  and  unscriptural 
powers  of  her  courts  and  bishops.  But  the  Separatists  went  further, 
and  denied  that  the  English  church,  as  constituted  by  law,  was  a 
true  church  of  Christ ;  and  affirmed  that  it  was  a  duty  to  separate 
from  her,  and  all  who  held  communion  with  her.  This  the  Puritans 
zealously  opposed,  judging  that  they  ought  to  remain  in  the  church  and 
labor  for  its  reformation.  "  A  separation,"  said  one  of  them  in  1608, 
"  we  deny  not  from  the  corruption  of  the  church  wherein  we  live  ; 
but  the  difference  is,  we  (i.  e.,  the  Puritans)  suffer  for  separating  in  the 
church;  you,  (i.  e.,  the  Separatists)  out  of  the  church."  ^ 

At  first,  Robinson  and  his  church  were  Separatists.  But  in  Holland 
he  is  said,  by  conversing  with  Dr.  Ames  and  Mr.  Parker,  to  have 
grown  more  moderate ;  and  it  is  certain  that  the  views  he  afterwards 
inculcated  upon  his  church,  were  enlightened  and  catholic.  "  He 
ever  held,"  says  Winslow,  who  lived  three  years  under  his  ministry, 
"  how  wary  persons  ought  to  be  in  separating  from  a  church ;  and  that 
till  Christ  the  Lord  departed  wholly  from  it,  man  ought  not  to  leave  it, 
only  to  bear  witness  against  the  corruption  that  was  in  it."^ 

It  is  not  a  matter  of  surprise,  therefore,  that  the  Plymouth  and 
Massachusetts  colonies,  although  in  England  of  different  and  opposing 
religious  views,  came  to  agree  upon  the  same  principles  of  church 
order.  "  There  will  be  no  difference,"  said  Robinson  in  his  farewell 
advice  to  the  Pilgrims,  "  between  the  unconformable  ministers  and 
you,  when  they  come  to  the  practice  of  the  ordinances  out  of  the 
kingdom.     And  so  he  advised  us  by  all  means,  to  endeavor  to  close 

1  See  Prince's  Chron.  p.  303.  «  Chron.  Pil.  p.  383. 


190 

with  the  godly  party  of  the  khigdom  of  England,  and  rather  to  study 
union  than  division ;  viz.,  how  near  we  might  possibly,  without  sin, 
close  with  them,  rather  than  in  the  least  measure  to  affect  division,  or 
separate  from  them."  ^ 

And  accordingly,  those  Puritans,  who  in  England  would,  for  the 
sake  of  peace  and  unity,  have  supported  a  moderate  Episcopacy  and  a 
reformed  liturgy,  when  they  had  crossed  the  ocean  and  settled  in  a 
wilderness,  to  escape  persecution  and  "  to  practice  the  positive  part  of 
church  reformation,"  were  prepared,  with  no  surrender  of  principle, 
but  rather  from  the  same  spirit  of  deference  for  the  supreme  authority 
of  the  Scriptures,  and  of  regard  for  Christian  union,  to  go  hand  in  hand 
with  their  Plymouth  brethren,  in  ordering  their  church  estate  by  the 
light  of  God's  word. 


Note  17,  page  33. 

INCREASE   NOWELL. 

Increase  Nowell  appears  to  have  married  Parnel,  the  daughter  of 
Catharine  Coytmore ;  for  the  latter  in  her  will,  dated  30.  2.  1658, 
gives  to  the  five  children  of  her  son,  Increase  Nowell,  and  to  the  five 
children  of  her  daughter,  Catharine  Greves,  Thomas,  Nathaniel, 
Joseph,  Rebecca,  Susanna,  "  the  dwelling  house  lately  inhabited  by 
myself,  now  by  Mr.  Thomas  Shepard,  near  the  meeting-house,  to  be 
sold  and  divided  equally  among  them."  This  house  is  referred  to  in 
the  following  interesting  extract  from  Sewall's  manuscript  journal. 
"  January  20,  1697.  I  lodged  at  Charlestown,  at  Mrs.  Shepard's,  who 
tells  me  Mr.  Harvard  built  that  house.  I  lay  in  the  chamber  next  the 
street.  As  I  lay  awake  past  midnight,  in  my  meditation,  I  was  affected 
to  consider  how  long  ago  God  had  made  provision  for  my  comfortable 
lodging  that  night — seeing  that  was  Mr.  Harvard's  house — and  that  led 
me  to  think  of  heaven,  the  house  not  made  with  hands,  which  God  for 
many  thousands  of  years  has  been  storing  with  the  richest  furniture, 
(saints  that  are  from  time  to  time  placed  there,)  and  that  I  had  some 
hopes  of  being  entertained  in  this  magnificent,  convenient  palace, 
every  way  fitted  and  furnished.  These  thoughts  were  very  refreshing 
to  me." 

The  children  of  Increase  and  Parnel  Nowell,  not  including  three 
who  died  in  infancy,  were 

1.  Samuel,  born  November  12,  1634.  Graduated  at  Harvard  Col- 
lege, 1653.  He  became  a  preacher  of  the  gospel,  but  was  never  set- 
tled in  the  ministry.  He  preached  frequently,  however,  and  notes  of 
many  of  his  sermons  have  been  preserved  among  the  Mather  manu- 
scripts in  the  Antiquarian  library,  at  Worcester.  One  of  his  sermons 
was  published.  It  is  entitled,  "  Abraham  in  Arms ;  or,  the  first 
Religious  General  with  his  army  engaging  in  a  war  for  which  he  had 

>  See  Chron.  Pil.  p.  398. 


191 

wisely  prepared,  and  by  which  not  only  an  eminent  victory  was  ob- 
tained, but  a  blessing  gained  also.  Delivered  in  an  artillery  election 
sermon,  June  3,  1678."  I  am  so  well  pleased  with  his  preface,  that 
I  have  transcribed  it. 

"  To  the  Reader : 

"Friendly  reader,  a  desire  to  gratify  my  friends,  hath  made  me, 
against  my  own  judgment,  to  consent  to  the  publication  of  these  notes, 
taken  by  one  of  the  auditors ;  to  which  I  am  not  able  to  make  that 
addition,  by  means  of  my  inability  to  write,  through  infirmity  in  my 
right  hand,  which  God  hath  been  pleased  to  exercise  me  with,  almost 
wholly  taking  away  the  use  of  my  hand ;  what  is,  therefore,  made  pub- 
lic, is  not  mine  own  notes,  but  agreeing  in  the  substance  with  what 
was  delivered.  This  argument  also  prevailed  with  me  to  let  this  come 
forth.  I  thought  others  more  able,  seeing  this  imperfect  work  to  find 
acceptance  with  some,  might  thereby  be  provoked  to  preach  and  print 
something  that  might  be  more  effectual  to  revive  our  military  disci- 
pline, and  the  spirit  of  soldiery,  which  seems  to  be  in  its  wane,  in  an 
age  when  never  more  need  of  it.  The  love  I  have  for  this  country, 
where  I  drew  my  first  breath,  hath  made  me  run  the  gauntlet  by  expos- 
ing this  to  the  world,  hoping  that  they  that  fault  it,  will  endeavor  to 
mend  it  by  some  mean  or  other,  and  to  pray  for  the  author,  who  is  a 
friend  to  all  of  such  a  spirit, 

Samuel  Nowell." 

Mr.  Nowell  is  mentioned  by  Mather,  (vol.  II.  492,)  as  chaplain  in  the 
army  employed  against  the  Narragansetts.  He  was  also,  for  several 
years,  treasurer  of  the  college.  He  afterwards  sustained  important 
civil  trusts,  and  was  chosen,  in  1680,  an  assistant  of  the  colony,  in 
which  office  he  continued  until  1686.  The  precise  date  of  his  death 
has  not  been  preserved,  but  it  was  while  Rev.  Increase  Mather  was  in 
London,  for  there  is  preserved  among  the  Mather  manuscripts  belong- 
ing to  the  Old  South  church,  a  note  of  invitation  for  Mr.  Mather  to 
attend  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Nowell. 

Mary,  the  widow  of  Samuel  Nowell,  we  learn  from  Sewall's  manu- 
script journal,  died  in  Charlestown,  Monday,  August  14,  1693.  Fu- 
neral August  15.  Bearers,  Mr.  Cook,  Major  Hutchinson,  Sewall, 
Allen,  Willard,  Baily.     She  was  laid  in  Mr.  Usher's  tomb. 

2.  Mehetable,  born  February  2,  1638.  She  was  admitted  to  full 
communion  with  the  church,  February  24,  1666-7,  under  the  name  of 
Mehetable  Hilton,  having  married  Mr.  "William  Hilton,  who  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  church  August  14,  1670,  by  letter  of  dismission  from  the 
church  in  Newbury.  Thomas  Shepard,  second,  calls  William  Hilton 
his  cousin.  The  children  of  William  and  Mehetable  Hilton  were — 
Nowell,  born  May  4,  1663;  Edward,  born  March  3,  1666;  John, 
baptized  May  24,  1668 ;  Richard,  born  September  13,  1670  ;  and 
Charles,  born  April  19,  1673.  Mr.  Hilton  dying  7th  7  mo.  1675, 
she  afterwards  married  Dea.  John  Cutler,  and  died  September,  1711, 
aged  seventy-three  years  eight  months.  Her  grave-stone  is  still  stand- 
ing in  our  burying-ground. 

This  William  Hilton  was  a  mariner,  and  I  suppose  him  to  be  the 
author  of  a  book  I  found  in  the  extensive  and  highly  valuable  library 


192 

of  Peter  Force,  Esq.,  of  Wcishington  city.  It  is  entitled,  "A  Relation 
of  a  Discovery  lately  made  on  the  coast  of  Florida,  (from  latitude  31 
to  33  degrees,  45  minutes  north  latitude,)  by  William  Hilton,  com- 
mander and  commissioner  with  Captain  Anthony  Long  and  Peter 
Fabian,  in  the  ship  Adventure,  which  set  sail  from  Spikes  Bay,  August 
10,  1GG3,  and  was  set  forth  by  several  gentlemen  and  merchants  of  the 
Island  of  Barbadoes."  It  gives  an  interesting  "account  of  the  nature 
and  temperature  of  the  soil,  the  manners  and  disposition  of  the  natives, 
and  whatsoever  else  is  remarkable  therein."     Printed  in  London,  1064, 

3.  Increase,  baptized  May  19,  1640.  He  appears  to  have  followed 
the  seas. 

4.  Mary,  born  May  26,  1643.  She  joined  the  church  February  23, 
1668,  under  the  name  of  Mary  Winslow,  having  married  Isaac  Wins- 
low,  August  14,  1666.  After  his  death  she  married  Mr.  John  Long, 
September  10,  1674. 

5.  Besides  these,  there  was  Alexander,  who  graduated  at  Harvard 
College,  1664  ;  was  the  author  of  several  almanacs,  and  died  1672. 

The  substance  of  Mr.  Increase  Nowell's  will  is  as  follows  : 
"  My  will  is,  that  my  son  Increase,  his  own  inclination  being  to  sea, 
be  brought  up  a  seaman.  Next,  my  will  is,  that  my  son  Alexander,  if 
he  incline  to  learning,  be  brought  up  a  scholar,  if  the  estate  be  able  to 
bear  it,  and  he  prove  towardly  and  capable;  if  not,  in  some  other 
honest  trade,  and  my  executors  and  overseers  think  meet."  He 
ordered  his  estate  to  be  divided  into  six  parts,  of  which  Samuel  was  to 
have  two.  Increase,  Alexander,  Mehetable  and  Mary,  one.  He  be- 
queathed .£40  to  his  pastor,  Zechariah  Symmes,  and  the  same  to  Mr. 
Wilson,  and  205.  apiece  to  the  Ruling  Elder,  John  Greene,  and  the 
two  Deacons,  Ralph  Mousall  and  Robert  Hale.  He  appointed  his 
wife  and  his  son  Samuel,  his  executors,  and  the  two  deacons  his  over- 
seers. The  whole  estate  amounted  to  £592,  besides  3,200  acres  of 
land,  granted  by  the  General  Court,  in  1650,  and  situated  near  the 
Merrimack  River,  in  New  Hampshire,  but  not  then  laid  out. 


Note  18,  page  33. 

CAPT.  RICHARD  SPRAGUE. 

The  original  will  of  Capt.  Sprague  is  preserved  in  the  probate  office, 
and  an  ancient  copy  of  it  is  among  the  church  papers.  It  bears  date 
October  5,  1703. 

"  First  and  principally,  I  recommend  my  soul  to  Almighty  God  my 
Creator,  hoping  and  believing  to  receive  full  pardon  and  free  remission 
of  all  my  sins,  and  to  be  saved  by  the  precious  death  and  merits  of  my 
blessed  Saviour  and  Redeemer  Christ  Jesus,  and  my  body  to  the  earth, 
from  whence  it  was  taken,  to  be  therein  buried  in  a  decent  and  Chris- 
tian manner,  according  to  the  directions  of  my  executors  hereinafter 
named." 

After  providing  for  the  payment  of  his  debts,  he  bequeaths, 


193 

1.  =£100  to  the  church  in  money,  part  of  it  to  be  laid  out  and  in- 
vested in  four  silver  tankards  for  sacramental  use,  and  the  rest  to  be 
disposed  of  by  the  deacons  and  their  successors,  for  the  best  advantage 
of  the  church. 

2.  .£50  to  Rev.  Simon  Bradstreet. 

3.  <£20  to  Rev.  Mr.  Michael  Wigglesworth. 

4.  £500  to  his  sister,  Mary  Edmands,  and  her  children. 

5.  To  the  five  sons  of  his  eldest  brother,  John  Sprague,  deceased, 
and  to  the  two  sons  of  his  brother,  Samuel  Sprague,  deceased,  his 
farm-house,  land,  wood-lot,  or  tenement  occupied  by  Charles  Hun- 
newell,  and  =£20  apiece. 

6.  7,  8.  Various  sums  to  several  relatives  and  friends  whom  he 
mentions. 

9.  To  his  sister,  Mary  Edmands,  a  silver  tankard,  and  his  dwelling 
house  and  land  adjoining,  to  be  disposed  of  after  her  death  for  the 
benefit  of  the  poor  in  the  town  ;  also,  all  his  household  stuff  to  be  dis- 
posed of  for  the  annual  benefit  of  the  poor. 

10.  Disposes  of  his  wearing  apparel. 

11.  "I  do  give  and  bequeath  the  house  and  land  Mr.  Simon  Brad- 
street  now  possesseth,  unto  my  sister,  Mary  Edmands,  during  her  nat- 
ural life ;  and  after  that,  to  Mr.  Bradstreet  aforesaid,  during  his  con- 
tinuance in  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  the  town  of  Charlestown,  the 
town  paying  the  sum  of  £10,  according  to  the  town's  vote,  for  the  rent 
thereof;  and  after  Mr.  Simon  Bradstreet's  death,  or  discontinuance  in 
the  work  of  the  ministry  in  this  said  town  of  Charlestown,  I  do  give 
and  bequeath  unto  the  said  town  of  Charlestown,  the  said  house  and 
land,  to  be  and  to  remain  for  the  use  of  the  ministry  in  said  town  for- 
ever, and  not  to  be  alienated  or  disposed  of  for  any  other  use  or  uses 
whatsoever." 

13.  "  I  do  give  and  bequeath  unto  Harvard  College,  in  Cambridge, 
the  sum  of  ^£400  in  money,  to  be  disposed  of  according  to  the  discre- 
tion and  management  of  the  now  President,  and  the  Hon.  John  Lev- 
eret, Mr.  William  Brattle,  and  Mr.  Simon  Bradstreet ;  and  further,  I 
do  give  unto  the  poor  of  the  town  of  Charlestown,  my  fourth  part  of 
the  sloop  Friendship,  the  same  to  be  put  to  interest  for  the  use  of  the 
poor  aforesaid,  to  be  managed  by  the  selectmen  of  the  town." 

The  remaining  parts  of  the  will  consist  of  additional  legacies  to  his 
relatives  and  friends,  excepting  this  clause  in  a  codicil :  "  I  give  and 
bequeath  unto  the  free-school  in  Charlestown,  £50  money,  to  be  put  to 
interest  by  the  selectmen  or  treasurer,  annually,  for  the  use  of  said 
school ;  the  interest  only  to  be  spent  yearly  for  the  end  aforesaid ;  the 
principal  not  to  be  used  any  other  ways  but  by  letting  for  lawful  inter- 
est, and  the  interest  to  be  annually  improved  as  aforesaid." 

The  house  bequeathed  to  the  poor  of  the  town,  in  the  paragraph 
numbered  9,  was  sold,  as  we  learn  from  the  town  records,  to  Samuel 
Henley,  May  13,  1732. 


25 


194 


Note  19,  page  34. 


LIST   OF  DEACONS. 


The  first  three  deacons  of  the  church  were  Ralph  Mousall,  Robert 
Hale,  and  Thomas  Lynde.  Ralph  Mousall  and  Robert  Hale  were 
among  the  original  members  of  the  church,  and  were  probably  ap- 
pointed when  the  church  was  organi-zed  ;  the  first  died  April  30,  1657, 
and  the  second  July  16,  1659.  Thomas  Lynde  was  admitted  to  the 
church  February  4,  1636  ;  but  of  his  appointment  to  the  office  of 
deacon,  no  record  is  left.  He  died  December  30,  1671.  William 
Stilson  and  Robert  Cutler  were  ordained  deacons  October  16,  1659, 
the  former  of  whom  was  admitted  to  the  church  March  22,  1633,  and 
died  April  11,  1691,  aged  ninety-one  years;  and  the  latter  was  admit- 
ted to  the  church  at  the  same  time  with  John  Harvard  and  Anna  his 
wife,  November  6,  1637,  and  died  March  7,  1665.  John  Cutler,  the 
son  of  Deacon  Robert,  and  Aaron  Ludkin,  were  ordained  deacons 
February  25,  1672,  and  both  died  the  same  year,  1694  ;  the  first,  Sep- 
tember 18,  and  the  second,  March  26.  "On  the  28th  April,  1695, 
three  deacons  (the  church  being  then  wholly  destitute)  having  been 
formerly  and  regularly  nominated,  and  declared  in  the  whole  congre- 
gation, namely,  Mr.  William  Foster,  Mr.  John  Call,  and  Mr.  Joseph 
Kettle  ;  Mr.  Foster  excused  himself  because  of  the  infirmity  of  his 
age,  and  therefore  the  other  two  only  were  this  day  ordained." ' 

There  is  in  the  burying-ground,  the  grave-stone  of  Deacon  Edward 
Wilson,  who  died  December  31,  1706,  aged  seventy-three.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  church  July  29,  1660  ;  but  of  his  election  or  ordination 
to  the  office  of  deacon,  no  record  remains. 

In  addition  to  those  mentioned  above,  the  following  persons  have 
successively  filled  the  office  of  deacon 


Jonathan  Gary,  chosen  Deacon 
Samuel  Frothingham,  " 
Jonathan  Kettel,     .     " 
Michael  Brigden,    .     " 
Thomas  Symmes,   .     " 
William  Kettell,     .     " 
John  Frothingham,      " 
David  Cheever,  .     .     " 
Timothy  Austin,     .     " 
John  Larkin, ..." 
Thomas  Miller,  .     .     " 
James  F'rothingham,    " 
Amos  Tufts,  ..." 
Matthew  Skelton,  .     " 
Jolm  Doane,  Jr.,  ordained  Deacon 
Enoch    Hunt,    chosen  Deacon 
Ebenezer  Ford, .     .     "      .     • 
Oliver  Dickson,      .     "      .     . 


May  3,  1710. 
June  5,  1723. 

((  u 

February  5,  1752. 
January  21,  1763. 

January  20,  1768. 

((    (( 

June  8,  1787. 
((    (( 

January  21, 1793. 
July  5,  1804. 

1818. 

January  10,  J  833. 
October  13,  1836. 
November  8,  1839. 
February  3,  1842. 


Record  by  Mr.  Morton. 


195 

Note  20,  page  35. 
MEETING-HOUSE  AND  SABBA'-DAY    HOUSE. 

The  town  records  say,  under  date  of  November  26,  1639,  "Mr. 
William  Rainsborough  bought  the  old  meeting-house  and  paid  lor  it  in 
full  payment,  to  Mr.  Nowell  and  Thomas  Lind,  one  hundred  pounds 
for  the  church's  use,  which  monies  went  towards  charge  of  building 
the  new  meeting-house." 

And  in  the  margin  is  the  following  :  "  Mr.  William  Rainsborough 
pays  for  the  old  meeting-house  that  stands  between  the  town  and  the 
neck,  c£100  to  Mr.  Increase  Nowell  and  Thomas  Lind  towards  build- 
ing the  new  meeting-house,  newly  built  in  the  town,  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Town  Hill." 

It  would  seem  from  this,  that  the  Great  House  was  either  abandoned 
and  another  built  farther  up,  or  else  was  moved  from  the  place  where 
it  was  built.  But  this  is  the  only  notice  I  have  found  of  any  meeting- 
house "  between  the  town  and  the  neck." 

In  Winthrop's  journal,  under  the  date  of  June,  1636,  is  the  follow- 
ing notice  :  "  Mr.  Winthrop,  Jun.,  gave  £6  towards  the  building  of 
the  meeting-house  at  Charlestown.  I  sent  it  by  James  Brown."  This 
it  would  seem  from  the  date,  must  have  been  given  for  the  house 
"  between  the  town  and  the  neck." 

In  this  connection  it  will  be  interesting  to  introduce  an  order  from 
the  town  records,  which  exhibits  the  care  of  our  ancestors  to  provide 
for  the  comfort  of  those  who  come  from  a  distance  to  attend  worship. 
Small  houses  were  built,  called  Sabba'-day  houses,  for  such  to  assem- 
ble in  as  lived  too  far  to  return  home  at  noon.  Under  date  of  May  9, 
1639,  is  the  following  record  :  "  It  was  ordered  that  a  watch-house 
should  be  built  with  a  chimney  in  it  of  convenient  largeness  to  give 
entertainment  on  the  Lord's  day  to  such  as  live  remote  from  the  meet- 
ing-house, and  that  there  shall  be  a  small  room  added  or  taken  out  of 
it  for  widow  Morly  to  live  in.  The  two  constables  and  Robert  Hale 
were  appointed  to  order  the  building  of  the  watch-house." 

This  proceeding  may  reveal,  perhaps,  the  cause  of  the  erection  of  a 
meeting-house  towards  the  neck,  and  the  condition  upon  which  it  was 
rebuilt  in  the  square.  But,  however  this  may  be,  it  is  interesting,  as 
exhibiting  a  usage  of  those  early  days. 

It  was  customary  in  country  towns,  to  erect  several  small  houses  for 
the  purpose  for  which  our  watch-house  was  built.  The  following  is 
an  extract  from  the  centennial  address  of  the  Rev.  Grant  Powers, 
of  Goshen,  Connecticut. 

"  These  houses  generally  consisted  of  two  rooms  ten  or  twelve  feet 
square,  with  a  chimney  in  the  centre  between  them,  and  a  fire-place 
in  each  room.  They  were  generally  built  at  the  united  expense  of 
two  or  more  families.  Dry  fuel  was  kept  in  each  house,  ready  for 
kindling  a  fire.  On  the  morning  of  the  Sabbath,  the  owner  of  each 
room  deposited  in  his  saddle-bags  the  necessary  refreshment  for  him- 
self and  family,  and  a  bottle  of  beer  and  cider,  and  took  an  early  start 
for  the  sanctuary.  He  first  called  at  his  Sabba'-day  house,  built  him  a 
fire,  deposited  his  luncheon,  warmed  himself  and  family  :  and  at  the 


196 

hour  of  worship,  they  were  all  ready  to  sally  forth,  and  to  shiver  in  the 
cold,  during  the  morning  services  at  the  house  of  worship.  At  noon 
they  returned  to  their  Sabba'-day  house,  with  some  invited  friends  per- 
haps, where  a  warm  room  received  them  ;  the  fire  having  been  in 
operation  during  the  morning  exercises.  The  saddle-bags  were  now 
brought  forth,  and  their  contents  discharged  upon  a  prophet's  table,  of 
which  all  partook  a  little,  and  each  in  turn  drank  at  the  bottle.  This 
service  being  performed,  and  thanks  returned,  the  patriarch  of  the 
family  drew  from  his  pocket  the  notes  he  had  taken  during  the  morn- 
ing service,  and  the  sermon  came  under  renewed  and  distinct  consid- 
eration, all  enjoying  the  utmost  freedom  in  their  remarks.  Sometimes 
a  well-chosen  chapter  or  paragraph  was  read  from  an  author,  and  the 
service  was  not  unfrequently  concluded  by  prayer  ;  then  all  returned  to 
the  sanctuary  to  seek  a  blessing  there.  If  the  cold  was  severe,  the 
family  might  return  to  their  house  to  warm  them  before  they  sought 
their  habitation.  The  fire  was  then  extinguished,  the  saddle-bags  and 
the  fragments  were  gathered  up,  the  house  locked,  and  all  returned  to 
their  home." 


Note  21,  page  41. 
THOMAS  JAMES. 

Mr.  Savage,  the  learned  editor  of  Winthrop,  thought  it  more 
probable  that  Mr.  James  did  not  return  to  England,  but  was  the 
Thomas  James  who  died  in  East  Hampton,  1696.  He  is  now,  how- 
ever, satisfied  that  they  were  different  persons.  The  testimony  of 
Prince  and  Hubbard  would  seem  decisive ;  and  that  he  had  a  son  who 
was  studying  for  the  ministry,  we  learn  from  Johnson.  Prince  says, 
p.  413,  "  When  I  lived  at  Comb's  in  Suffolk,  from  1711  to  16,  Mr. 
Thomas  Denny,  a  pious  and  ancient  gentleman  there,  informed  me 
that  he  knew  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  James,  minister  of  Needham, 
about  four  miles  off,  who  he  said  came  from  New  England."  Hub- 
bard says,  p.  191,  that  he  continued  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  till 
the  year  1678,  when  he  was  about  the  eighty-sixth  year  of  his  age,  and 
might  be  living  at  the  time  he  wrote.  Johnson  bestows  the  following 
lines  upon  him : 

"Thy  native  soil,  O  .lames,  did  thee  approve, 

God's  people  there  in  Lincolnshire  commend  ; 
Thy  courteous  speech,  and  work  of  Christian  love, 

'I'ill  Christ  through  seas  did  thee  on  message  send. 
With  learned  skill  his  mind  tor  to  unl'old, 

His  people  in  New  England  thou  must  feed; 
But  one  sad  breach  did  cut  that  band  should  hold, 

Then  part  wilt  thou  lest  farther  jars  should  breed, 
Yet  part  thou  wilt  not  with  Christ's  truth,  thy  crown. 

Hut  my  muse  wails  that  any  soldier  should 
In  lighting  slip;    why,  James,  thou  Tallest  not  down! 

Back  thou  retreat'st— then  valiant  fighting;  hold 
Fast  on  thy  Christ,  who  thine  may  raise  with  thee  ; 

His  bands  increase  when  leaders  he  provides ; 
Thy  son,  young  student,  may  such  blessing  be. 

Thy  loss  repair,  and  Christ  thee  crown  besides." ' 

1  VVonder  Working  Providence,  ch.  26. 


197 

Note  22,  page  46. 
THOMAS  ALLEN. 

The  following  facts  have  been  gleaned  by  Mr.  Savage,  in  his  late 
visit  to  England,  respecting  Mr.  Allen.  He  was  the  son  of  John 
Allen,  a  dyer,  of  Norwich,  of  a  competent  estate,  born  and  baptized 
1608.  He  was  chosen  minister  of  St.  Edmund's  a  second  time,  and 
continued  so  till  August  24,  1662,  about  eleven  years.  He  took  his 
first  degree,  1627,  and  his  second,  1631.  His  first  wife  was  Anne 
Sadler,  of  Patcham,  in  Sussex,  by  whom  he  had  a  son,  Thomas.  His 
second  wife  was  the  widow  of  Major  Sedgwick,  by  whom  he  had  no 
issue. 

Our  church  records  show  the  baptism  of  Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Anne  Allen,  loth  12mo.,  1639.  And  from  the  Boston  records 
we  learn  that  Mary,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Anne  Allen,  was 
born  31.  11.  1639.  And  Sarah,  their  daughter,  was  born  8.  6.  1641, 
and  was  buried  21.  2  1642.  Elizabeth,  their  daughter,  was  born  17. 
7.,  and  died  29.  7.  1642.  And  Mercy,  their  daughter,  was  born  13. 
6.  1646,  and  died  17.  6.  1646. 


Note  23,  page  47. 
THE  CAMBRIDGE  PLATFORM. 

At  the  session  of  the  General  Court,  in  May,  1646,  a  bill  was  pre- 
sented by  some  of  the  elders  for  a  synod  to  be  held  in  the  end  of  sum- 
mer. The  magistrates  passed  it,  but  the  deputies  objected,  because 
the  churches  were  required  by  the  bill  to  send  messengers,  and  they  j/i 
were  not  satisfied  that  Christ  had  given  the  civil  authority  any  such  ^ 
power  over  the  churches,  and  also  becau^^  the  design  of  the  synod  was 
to  establish  one  uniform  practice  for  all  the  churches,  which  was  to  be 
approved  by  the  General  Court ;  and  this  seemed  to  give  power  either 
to  the  synod  or  the  court  to  compel  the  churches  to  practice  what 
should  so  be  established. 

In  answer  to  these  objections,  it  was  said  and  admitted  by  all,  that 
the  civil  magistrate  had  power  to  require  the  churches  to  send  messen- 
gers to  advise  in  regard  to  those  ecclesiastical  matters,  either  of  doc- 
trine or  discipline,  the  purity  and  truth  of  which  the  magistrate  was 
bound  by  God  to  maintain.  And  then  it  was  held,  the  synod  was  to 
proceed  not  by  way  of  power,  but  of  counsel  from  the  word  of  God ; 
and  the  court  was  at  liberty  to  disannul  or  establish  the  agreement  of 
the  synod  as  they  saw  fit,  which  put  no  more  authority  into  their  hands 
than  they  already  had  by  the  word  of  God,  as  well  as  by  their  own  laws 
and  liberties.  It  was  voted,  therefore,  that  the  civil  authority  had 
power  to  call  a  synod  when  they  saw  fit ;  but  from  tender  regard  to  the 
scruples  of  some,  it  was  determined  that  the  synod  should  be  convened 
by  way  of  motion  only,  and  not  of  command  to  the  churches. 


198 

As  the  time  for  the  synod  to  meet,  drew  near,  it  was  propounded  to 
the  churches,  and  the  same  or  similar  objections  were  raised  as  had 
been  made  by  the  deputies.  Those  who  were  principally  concerned  in 
raising  these  objections,  were  some  persons  in  Boston  who  had  recently 
come  from  England,  where  the  largest  liberty  was  claimed  and  allowed 
by  the  Independents,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  House  of  Commons. 
Governor  Winthrop  has  preserved  a  particular  account  of  the  debate 
held  on  this  subject,  in  the  Boston  church.  The  question  was  agitated 
and  no  conclusion  reached,  two  Lord's  days  ;  and  the  elders  sat  down 
much  grieved  in  spirit,  but  told  the  congregation  they  felt  it  their 
duty  to  attend  the  synod  notwithstanding ;  not  as  sent  by  the  church, 
but  as  called  by  the  court. 

The  assembly  met  at  Cambridge,  1st  September.  The  next  day, 
being  the  Boston  Lecture,  Mr.  Norton  of  Ipswich,  preached  a  sermon 
to  a  vast  auditory,  on  Moses  and  Aaron  kissing  each  other  in  the 
mount,  in  which  he  laid  down  the  nature  and  power  of  synods  as  only 
consultative,  decisive,  and  declarative,  not  coactive;  and  spoke  with  so 
much  effect  upon  this  subject,  and  upon  the  duty  of  churches  to  yield 
obedience  to  the  civil  magistrate,  and  the  great  scandal  of  refusing  to 
do  so,  that  on  the  next  Lord's  day,  a  majority  of  the  church  voted  to 
send  three  messengers  with  their  elders  to  the  assembly. 

Owing  to  these  circumstances,  the  synod,  upon  coming  together, 
discussed  the  question  as  to  the  magistrates'  power  in  matters  of 
religion  ;  and  after  a  session  of  fourteen  days,  delivered  their  judg- 
ment in  the  following  proposition  :  "  The  civil  magistrate,  in  matters 
of  religion,  or  of  the  first  table,  hath  power  civilly  to  command  or 
forbid  things  respecting  the  outward  man,  which  are  clearly  com- 
manded or  forbidden  in  the  word,  and  to  inflict  suitable  punishments, 
according  to  the  nature  of  the  same." 

This  proposition,  with  arguments  and  testimonies  in  confirmation  of 
it,  was  printed  at  London,  1654,  together  with  a  discourse  upon  the 
doctrine,  by  Thomas  Allen.  It  was  bound  up  with  a  small  treatise 
about  the  nature  and  power  of  synods. 

It  being  near  winter,  and  few  of  the  elders  from  other  colonies 
being  present,  the  synod  adjourned  to  June  8,  1647.  At  the  second 
session,  no  business  was  accomplished  in  consequence  of  an  epidemic 
disease,  which  prevailed  through  the  colonies,  among  Indians  and 
English,  French  and  Dutch,  of  which  died,  the  very  day  before  the 
synod  assembled,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Hooker,  of  Hartford,  and  just  one 
week  after,  Margaret,  the  wife  of  Gov.  Winthrop. 

The  synod  met  again  by  adjournment,  August  15.  Mr.  Allen,  of 
Dedham,  preached  from  Acts  xv.,  a  chapter  containing  the  history  of 
the  council  of  Jerusalem.  The  Platform,  framed  by  the  synod  at  this 
time,  was  presented  to  the  General  Court,  in  the  month  of  October, 
1648,  and  by  them  accepted  and  approved. 

From  that  time  to  this,  the  Platform,  for  substance,  has  been  recog- 
nized as  the  standard  of  Congregational  discipline.  This  Platform 
has  been  once  solemnly  re-alBrmed.  A  synod  convened  by  the  General 
Court,  at  Boston,  September  10,  1679,  having  read  and  considered  it, 
unanimously  approved  of  it,  "  for  the  substance  of  it,"  "  desiring  that 
the  churches  may  continue  steadfast  in  the  order  of  the  gospel,  accord- 
ins  to  what  is  therein  declared  from  the  word  of  God." 


199 

It  deserves  especial  notice,  that  the  Platform  was  re-affirmed  "  for  the 
substance  of  it,"  for  in  some  particulars,  there  was  an  early,  and  at 
length,  a  universal  departure  from  the  Platform ;  but  these  particulars 
were  then,  and  are  now,  few  in  number,  and  by  no  means  essential  to 
it.  Mather  enumerates  four  of  these  departures  or  modifications.  The 
first  respected  the  power  of  the  pastor  to  administer  the  sacraments  to 
any  but  his  own  congregation.  The  Platform  does  not  deny  this 
power,  but  inasmuch  as  Cotton  and  others  had,  it  was  not  fully 
asserted.  [See  chapter  v.  section  2.]  This  power,  however,  was  very 
soon  universally  conceded  ;  and  by  a  meeting  of  the  neighboring  min- 
isters, at  Cambridge,  it  was  declared  to  be  their  judgment  that  the 
Platform  approved  of  it. 

2.  The  doctrine  of  the  distinct  office  of  ruling  elders,  was  also 
early  questioned. 

3.  Lay  ordination  also  was  rarely  practised,  and  as  rarely  approved. 
The  right  and  validity  of  such  ordinations,  when  necessary,  has  been 
always  admitted;  but  the  propriety  of  them,  in  the  presence  of  or- 
dained ministers,  was  from  the  first  questioned,  and  has  been  so  gen- 
erally disapproved  of,  that  their  occurrence  has  been  very  rare. 

4.  The  practice  of  public  examinations,  for  admission  to  the  church, 
has  been  discontinued. 

And  besides  these,  the  doctrine  of  the  power  of  the  civil  magistrate, 
in  matters  ecclesiastical,  has  been  modified  since  the  adoption  of  the 
constitution  of  1780.' 


Note  24,  page  51. 

THOMAS    ALLEN'S    LETTER    RESPECTING    THE    EARLY    INDIAN 

MISSIONS. 

"  Honored  Sir : 

"  It  seems  that  some  of  late  have  been  so  impudently  bold  (which 
I  cannot  sufficiently  wonder  at)  as  to  report  and  publiquely  affirme, 
that  there  was  no  such  thing  as  the  preaching  and  dispensing  of  the 
Gospell  amongst  the  Natives  in  New  England.  Verily  Sir,  I  doe  be- 
lieve that  the  Devill  himselfe  (who  is  the  Father  of  Lyes)  would  not, 
yea,  durst  not  have  uttered  such  a  notorious  untruth  as  that  was. 
Now,  although  I  confesse  I  have  not  been  present  at  the  places  where 
the  Indians  are  wont  to  meete,  to  heare  such  as  doe  preach  unto  them, 
by  reason  of  my  bodily  weakness,  and  indisposition  to  travell  so  farre 
into  the  Wildernesse,  yet  thus  much  I  can  testifie,  (if  my  Testimony 
may  be  of  any  use),  being  lately  come  over  from  New  England,  that 
there  are  divers  persons  in  severall  places,  who  doe  take  paines,  and 
labour  in  that  Worke  there;  viz.,  not  onely  Mr.  Eliot  of  Roxbury, 
who  hath  preached  among  them  for  many  yeares,  up  and  downe  in  the 
Jurisdiction  of  the  Massachusets  ;  and  Mr.  Mahew,  who  for  a  good 

1  Winthrop  II.  264-269,  308-330.    Magnalia  II.  179-212.    Hubb.  ch.  v.  8. 


200 

while  hath  taken  paines  among  the  Indians,  at  an  Island  called  Mar- 
tin's Vineyard  ;  but  of  late,  also  Mr.  Leveridge,  in  the  Jurisdiction  of 
Plymouth,  and  Mr.  Blynman,  who  lives  now  in  a  new  Plantation,  in 
the  Pequott's  Country.  As  for  the  successe  of  the  preaching  of  the 
Gospell  unto  the  Natives,  I  have  heard  Mr.  Eliot  affirme,  that  he  is  so 
well  perswaded  of  the  Worke  of  grace  in  some  of  them,  as  that  he 
could  comfortably  joyne  in  Church  fellowship  with  them.  Mr.  Mahew, 
also,  (who  came  to  see  mee  a  little  before  my  coming  from  thence,) 
told  me  that  after  Mr.  Whitefield's  coming  thence,  (for  he  had  been 
upon  that  Island,  as  he  came  to  the  Bay,  and  was  present  also  with  Mr. 
Mahew  amongst  the  Indians,)  there  were  neer  upon  one  hundred  (I 
think  he  said  Ninety  and  odd)  persons  of  them  more  who  came  in  to 
heare  him  preach  unto  them,  and  some  Pawaws  also,  and  one  of  some 
eminency  amongst  them,  who  did  acknowledge  his  evill  in  such  doings, 
and  made  a  Declaration  of  the  manner  how  he  came  at  first  to  be  a 
Pawaw,  the  which  also  Mr.  Mahew  did  relate  unto  mee.  Sir,  that 
there  is  such  a  work  in  hand  in  New  England,  as  the  preaching  of  the 
Gospel  unto  the  Natives  there,  all  the  Magistrates  and  Ministers,  and 
people  in  that  place  (who  know  anything)  will  be  readie  to  attest ;  and 
therefore,  such  as  dare  affirme  the  contrary,  may  as  well  say  that  the 
Sunne  doth  not  shine  at  Noone  day,  when  the  skie  is  cleere,  and  doe 
indeed  deserve  a  Publique  Witnesse  to  be  borne  against  them  for  such 
a  Publique  and  so  notorious  an  untruth  ;  the  good  Lord  humble  them 
deeply  for  it,  if  it  be  his  good  will,  and  pardon  it  to  them  through  his 
grace  in  Christ. 

"  Thus,  Sir,  not  having  furthur  at  this  present  to  be  troublesome 
unto  you,  desiring  an  interest  in  your  earnest  prayers  for  mee,  beseech- 
ing the  Lord  to  let  his  presence  and  blessing  be  with  you,  and  upon 
your  great  and  weighty  businesses,  I  take  leave,  resting 
"  Your  humble  Servant  in  the  Lord, 

Thomas  Allen." 

"  Norwich,  Sth  Umo.,  165L" 


Note  25,  page  59. 
ORIGIN   OF  THE   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

I  HAVE  thought  it  best  to  transcribe  from  the  records,  all  that  re- 
mains respecting  the  cases  of  Thomas  Gould  and  Thomas  Osborn. 
The  following  extracts  follow,  at  intervals,  the  one  to  be  found  on 
pages  56  and  57,  and  together  with  that,  present  the  whole  history  of 
the  case,  as  left  by  the  records  of  the  church. 

Nov.  18,  16G3.  Bro.  Thomas  Oshurn  being  leavened  with  princi- 
ples of  Anabaptismc  was  (the  brethren  consenting)  admonished  for 
frequent  irregular  withdrawing  himself  from  the  publick  worship  of 
God,  holding  it  to  be  no  sin  to  neglect  the  publick  ordinances  of  God 
upon  the  Lord's  day,  even  when  they  might  conveniently  be  enjoyed  ; 
and  for  continuing  impenitent  in  his  sin.     On  the  same  day  also,  it 


201 

was  consented  to  by  the  brethren,  that  his  wife,  leavened  with  princi- 
ples of  Anabaptisnie  and  Qunkerisme,  should  receive  an  admonition, 
for  her  notorious  neglect  of  the  publique  worship  of  God,  denyins  our 
churches  to  be  true  churches,  and  denying  her  membership  with  us, 
and,  also,  the  churches  power  over  her,  and  continuing  impenitent  in 
her  sin.  She  went  home  from  the  assembly,  when  the  admonition 
should  have  been  declared  to  her,  but  however  it  was  declared  that 
she  was  under  the  publiq  offence  of  the  church.  And  at  the  same 
time  Bro.  Thonios  Gool  also  persisting  in  his  schismatical  withdraw- 
ing from  the  church,  notwithstanding  his  former  admonition,  and  now 
for  denying  his  relation  to  this  church,  as  a  brother  of  it,  and  also  for 
denying  the  churches  power  over  him,  was  againe  (with  the  consent 
of  the  brethren)  declared  to  be  under  the  great  oftence  of  the  church, 
and  rebuked  for  his  impenitency  in  that  sin  of  his. 

Feb.  21,  1064.  Bro.  Thomas  Osburn  received  a  second  admonition 
(with  the  consent  of  the  brethren)  for  his  obstinacy  in  his  former  sin, 
for  which  he  had  been  (Nov.  18)  admonished,  and  aggravated  by 
another  degree  of  schisme,  refusing  (as  he  expressly  and  vehemently 
affirmed)  to  hold  communion  with  the  church  any  longer,  as  formerly 
he  had  done  ;  because  we  held  baptisme  of  children  to  be  an  ordi- 
nance of  God,  &c. 

Feb.  28,  1064.  Bro.  Thomas  Goal  was  again  aflmonishid  (with 
the  consent  of  the  brethren)  for  his  impenitency  in  his  former  sin  of 
schisming  for  which  he  had  been  admonished,  and  withall  now  refus- 
ing to  give  an  account  to  the  church  who  did  enquire  concerning  a 
private  meeting  kept  at  his  house  on  the  Lord's  day  (Novemb.  8, 
1663)  with  Bro.  Osburn  and  other  Anabaptists,  when  he  should,  and 
might  conveniently  have  been  present  with  the  church  in  the  publiq 
worship  of  God ;  he  said  it  was  not  the  season  for  him  to  answer,  and 
therefore  would  not  give  an  account  of  it ;  for  which  things  above 
said,  he  was  accordingly  censured. 

July  9,  1665.  The  church,  hearing  that  Bro.  Gool  and  Bro.  Os- 
burn had  together  with  other  Anabaptists,  embodied  themselves  in  a 
pretended  church  way ;  sent  Deacon  Lynd  and  Deacon  Stittson  to 
them  with  this  message  ;  viz  :  That  they  should  be  present  with  this 
church  the  next  Lord's  day  in  the  public  worship  of  God,  and  at  the 
evening  thereof  to  stay,  and  give  an  account  to  the  church  of  that 
report  which  was  heard  concerning  them,  as  also  concerning  their  for- 
mer offences  :  and  the  church  did  then  desire  our  Deacons  to  acquaint 
our  Sister  Osburn  (that  hath  been  for  some  time  under  the  public 
offence  of  the  church)  with  that  meeting,  and  that  she  should  be  pres- 
ent likewise  with  her  husband. 

July  16,  1665.  Our  Deacons  having  carried  the  message  of  the 
church  to  Bro.  Gool,  Bro.  Osburn,  and  our  Sister  Osburn,  to  come  and 
hear  the  church  ;  the  answer  returned  back  to  the  church  was  nega- 
tive. Bro.  Gool  said  he  should  not  come,  and  if  our  church  had  any 
thing  to  say  against  him,  they  should  acquaint  the  society  with  it  to 
which  he  was  then  joined:  saying  also  that  he  was  no  member  of 
our  church  ;  and  said,  your  church  hath  nothing  to  do  with  me.  Bro. 
Osburn  said  that  he  had  given  his  reasons  to  the  church  formerly  why 
he  could  not  hold  communion  with  it,  viz  :  because  of  Lifant  Baptism  ; 
2.  our  allowing  none  but  such  as  had  human  learning  to  be  in  the 
26 


202 

ministry  ;  3.  our  severe  dealing  with  those  of  a  contrary  judgment 
from  us  ;  and  therefore  said  he  should  not  come  to  the  church.  Our 
Sister  Osburn's  was  that  she  desired  not  to  continue  with  the  church, 
but  would  be  dis?}nssrd  which  way  they  would,  and  that  she  could  not 
come  to  the  church,  she  should  sin  against  her  conscience  if  she  did. 

These  members  thus  refusing  to  appear,  the  church  judged  it  meet 
to  wait  with  some  further  patience  upon  our  brethren  abovesaid,  and 
sister  :  and  they  did  therefore  desire  our  Deacons  again,  with  our 
brother  Ensign  Tidd,  to  carry  this  message  following  to  them,  viz  : 
to  tell  them  that  they  are  under  the  further  offence  of  the  church  for 
their  separating  from  our  communion,  and  refusing  to  hear  the  church, 
and  that  the  church  doth  desire,  and  require  them  in  the  name  of 
Christ  that  they  return  to  us,  and  come  and  hear  the  church  and  give 
an  account  the  next  Lord's  day  of  their  withdrawing. 

July  23,  1(365.  Our  messengers  having  delivered  the  message 
abovesaid  to  Bro.  Gool,  Bro.  Osburn,  and  Sister  Osburn  ;  the  answer 
returned  by  them  was  the  same  (in  a  manner)  they  gave  the  week 
before ;  Bro.  Gool  denying  his  relation  to  the  church  in  Charles- 
town,  and  that  they  had  nothing  to  do  with  him,  and  also  said  that 
they  were  to  have  the  Lord's  Supper  administered  in  their  church 
the  next  Lord's  day  and  therefore  he  should  not  come  :  Bro.  Osburn 
said  he  should  not  come  to  the  church  and  that  the  church  might  pro- 
ceed as  they  pleased  with  him  :  our  Sister  Osburn's  answer  was  as 
formerly,  refusing  to  come.  Whereupon  it  was  propounded  to  vote 
(after  a  proposal  of  it  had  been  made  by  some  of  the  brethren)  That 
if  there  did  come  in  nothing  o{  repentance  manifested  by  these  persons 
to  the  church  between  this  and  the  ne'xt  Lord's  day,  whether  then 
the  church  should  proceed  (seeing  these  matters  had,  formerly  been 
so  fully  and  often  debated)  without  further  debating  the  matter  the 
next  Lord's  day,  and  (if  nothing  of  more  than  ordinary  weight  to 
hinder  did  fall  out  in  the  interim)  that  then  these  our  brethren  and  she 
our  sister  should  have  the  censure  of  excommunication  passed  against 
them  ]  It  was  unanimously  carried  by  a  silentiary  vote  in  the  affirma- 
tive, not  one  of  the  brethren  present  expressing  a  word  against  it. 

July  30,  1665.  Nothing  of  repentance  intervening,  Bro.  Thomas 
Gool,  Bro.  Thomas  Osburn,  and  his  wife  our  Sister  Osburn,  were 
(with  the  consent  of  the  brethren)  excommunicated  for  their  impeni- 
tency  in  their  schismatical  withdrawing  from  the  church  and  neglect- 
ing to  hear  the  church." 

A  document  has  been  preserved  by  Backus,  and  incorporated  into 
his  history  of  the  Baptists,  purporting  to  be  a  narrative  written  by  Mr. 
Gould  himself,  of  his  treatment  by  the  church.  This  document,  he 
says,  he  met  with  among  Mr.  Callender's  papers,  and  had  good  reason 
to  think  it  genuine.  In  order  that  both  sides  of  the  controversy  may 
be  presented,  I  have  thought  it  best  to  give  the  substance  of  Mr. 
Gould's  own  account,  abridging  it,  but  preserving  its  spirit  and  style. 

He  says,  that  having  had  scruples  a  long  time  in  regard  to  infant 
baptism,  he  refrained  from  offering  his  child,  born  in  1655,  for  that 
ordinance,  keeping  silence,  and  waiting  to  see  what  the  church  would 
do.  On  a  third  day  of  the  week,  when  there  was  a  meeting  at  his 
house  to  keep  a  day  of  thanksgiving  to  God  for  the  mercy  shown  to 
his  wife,  he  received  a  note  from  the  elders  of  the  church,  desiring 


203 

him  to  come  down  to  their  house  on  the  morrow,  and  let  them  know 
when  he  would  come,  and  they  would  stay  at  home  for  him  ;  and  if  he 
could  not  come  that  day,  to  send  them  word.  He  was  prevented  from 
accepting  this  proposal  by  a  previous  engagement,  and  sent  back  word 
accordingly.  On  the  fifth  day,  meeting  with  Elder  Green,  he  told  him 
how  it  was  ;  and  the  elder  promised  to  see  the  pastor,  and  appoint 
another  day  and  send  him  word.  After  a  silence  of  two  months,  he 
was  requested  to  stop  on  a  first  day  in  the  afternoon,  and  meet  the 
church.  He  was  then  called  out,  and  "  Master  Sims"  told  the  church 
that  he  withheld  his  child  from  baptism,  and  had  refused  to  meet  them 
or  appoint  a  time  for  it,  when  they  wrote  to  him  to  take  his  own  time 
and  send  them  word.  This  led  to  an  angry  altercation  as  to  what  the 
letter  contained — Mr.  Symmes  charging  Mr.  Gould  with  falsehood  — 
when  Brother  Thomas  Wilder  producing  the  letter,  substantiated  Mr. 
Gould's  statement,  and  forced  Mr.  Symmes  to  confess  that  he  was 
mistaken.  After  this,  Mr.  Gould  was  questioned  in  regard  to  his 
reasons  for  withholding  his  child  from  baptism.  The  following  week, 
at  a  meeting  of  the  church,  held  at  Mr.  Russell's  house,  efforts  con- 
tinued to  be  made  to  satisfy  his  conscience,  when  Mr.  Symmes  is  rep- 
resented again  as  being  very  positive,  and  being  obliged  to  confess 
himself  in  the  wrong. 

At  another  meeting,  during  the  discussion,  W.  D.  stood  up  in  the 
church  and  said  twice,  "  put  him  in  the  court."  Mr.  Symmes  said, 
"pray,  forbear  such  words;"  but  Mr.  Gould  said  it  proved  so,  for  he 
was  soon  put  into  seven  or  eight  courts,  while  he  was  still  looked  upon 
as  a  member  of  their  church.  The  elder  pressed  the  church  to  lay 
him  under  admonition,  but  they  were  backward  to  do  it.  After  this, 
he  went  out  at  the  sprinkling  of  children  ;  but  because  it  was  a  great 
trouble  to  some  honest  hearts,  he  was  prevailed  upon  to  stay  ;  he  sat 
down,  however,  during  the  administration,  and  then  they  dealt  with 
him  for  irreverent  conduct ;  one  accused  him  of  stopping  his  ears,  but 
he  denied  it. 

At  another  meeting,  he  was  asked  if  he  would  suffer  the  church  to 
fetch  his  child  and  baptize  it  ?  He  replied,  yes,  if  it  might  be  made 
known  that  he  had  no  hand  in  it ;  then  some  of  the  church  were 
against  doing  so.  A  brother  stood  up  and  said.  Brother  Gould,  you 
were  once  for  infant  baptism,  why  are  you  fallen  from  it  ?  He  replied, 
why  were  you  once  for  crossing  in  baptism  ?  This  greatly  offended 
Mr.  Symmes,  who  desired  the  church  to  take  notice  that  he  compared 
the  ordinance  of  Christ  to  the  cross  in  baptism ;  and  this  was  made 
one  of  the  offences  for  which  he  was  dealt  with.  After  this,  the  Dep- 
uty Governor,  meeting  him  in  Boston,  desired  him  to  let  the  church 
baptize  his  child,  to  which  he  consented,  if  they  did  it  on  their  own 
account.  He  then  called  to  Mrs.  Norton,  of  Charlestown,  and  prayed 
her  to  fetch  Goodman  Gould's  child  and  baptize  it.  She,  through 
misapprehension,  however,  gave  the  impression  that  he  would  bring 
his  child  out.  This  led  to  another  interview  with  the  church,  when 
one  of  the  brethren  said  if  he  would  not  bring  his  child  to  one  ordi- 
nance, it  was  meet  he  should  not  partake  of  the  other.  So  many  of 
the  church  concluded  to  lay  him  under  admonition ;  but  before  they 
did  it,  Mr.  Symmes  told  him  it  was  more  according  to  rule,  for  him  to 
withdraw  from   the  ordinance,  than  for  them  to  put  him  by — quoting 


204 

Matt.  V.  23,  24.  But  he  replied  that  he  did  not  know  that  his  brother 
had  anything  justly  against  him,  and  therefore  he  durst  not  withdraw 
from  that  ordinance  that  he  had  found  so  much  of  God  in.  After  this, 
they  proceeded  to  admonition.  Elder  Green  said,  "  Brother  Gould, 
you  are  to  take  notice  that  you  are  admonished  for  three  things ;  the 
first  is,  that  you  refused  to  bring  your  child  to  be  baptized  ;  the  second 
is,  for  your  contentious  words  and  unreverent  carriage  in  the  time  of 
that  ordinance ;  the  third  is,  for  a  late  lie  you  told ;  and  therefore,  you 
are  to  take  notice,  that  you  are  not  to  partake  any  more  of  the  ordi- 
nance of  Christ  with  us  till  you  give  satisfaction  for  these  things." 
Mr.  Gould  says  he  does  not  know  what  this  "lie"  referred  to,  unless 
to  the  letter  mentioned  above.  This  admonition  took  place  seven  or 
eight  years  before  he  was  cast  out.  After  this,  he  went  to  Cambridge 
meeting,  which  was  as  near  to  his  house  as  the  other ;  upon  that,  he 
was  put  into  court,  because  he  did  not  come  to  hear ;  but  it  appearing 
that  he  went  constantly  to  Cambridge,  he  was  cleared.  After  this,  he 
was  dealt  with  for  schism,  or  rending  from  the  church.  But  he  told 
them  he  did  not  rend  from  them,  for  they  put  him  away.  "  Master 
Symmes  was  very  earnest  for  another  admonition,  which  most  of  the 
church  were  against ;  but  it  seems  he  set  it  down  for  an  admonition 
on  a  bit  of  paper." 

Things  remained  in  this  condition  for  a  long  time.  In  the  mean- 
time some  Baptist  friends  having  come  from  England,  they  began  to 
hold  meetings  at  Mr.  Gould's  house,  on  the  Lord's  day.  For  this  he 
was  again  summoned  before  the  church.  His  answer  was,  "  I  know 
not  what  reason  the  church  had  to  call  me  forth."  Being  asked  if  he 
was  not  a  member  of  the  church,  he  replied,  "  they  had  not  acted  to- 
ward me  as  a  member — they  had  denied  me  the  privileges  of  a  mem- 
ber, who  had  put  me  by  the  ordinances  seven  years  ago.  They  asked 
whether  I  looked  upon  admonition  as  an  appointment  of  Christ.'  I 
told  them  yes,  but  not  to  lie  under  it  above  seven  years,  and  to  be  put 
by  the  ordinances  of  Christ  in  the  church;  for  the  rule  of  Christ  is, 
first  to  deal  with  men  in  the  first  and  in  the  second  place,  and  then  in 
the  third  place  before  the  church ;  but  the  first  time  that  ever  they 
dealt  with  me,  they  called  me  before  the  whole  church.  Many  meet- 
ings were  held  about  this  thing,  whether  I  was  a  member  or  not ;  but 
they  could  come  to  no  conclusion,  for  I  still  affirmed  that  their  actings 
rendered  me  no  member.  Then  Mr.  Synnnes  told  the  church  I  was 
ripe  for  excommunication,  and  was  very  earnest  for  it,  but  the  church 
would  not  consent."  He  then  desired  a  council,  but  Mr.  Symmes 
answered,  "  we  are  a  church  of  Christ  ourselves,  and  you  shall  know 
that  we  have  power  to  deal  with  you  ourselves."  Mr.  Russell  said, 
"  we  have  not  gone  the  right  way  to  gain  this  our  brother,  for  we  have 
dealt  too  harshly  with  him."  Still  Mr.  Symmes  pressed  the  church  to 
excommunicate  him.  Mr.  Russell  said,  "  There  were  greater  errors 
in  the  church  in  the  apostles'  time,  and  yet  they  did  not  so  deal  with 
them."  Mr  Symmes  asked  him  what  they  were  ?  He  replied,  "  How 
say  some  of  you  that  there  is  no  resurrection  of  the  dead  ? "  Mr. 
Symmes  was  troubled,  and  said,  "  I  wonder  you  will  bring  this  place  of 
Scripture  to  encourage  him  in  his  error  !  "  Mr.  Symmes  was  earnest 
for  another  admonition  ;  then  stood  up  Solomon  Phips,  and  said,  "  You 
may  clap  one  admonition  on  him  upon  another,  but  to  what  end,  for  he 


205 

was  admonished  about  seven  years  ago."  Mr.  Symmes  said,  "  Brother! 
do  you  make  such  a  light  matter  of  admonition,  to  say  '  clap  one  upon 
another!'  doth  not  the  apostle  say,  '  after  the  first  and  second  admoni- 
tion reject  an  heretic  1 '  therefore,  there  might  be  a  second  admoni- 
tion." It  was  answered,  it  was  a  hard  matter  to  prove  a  man  an  her- 
etic, for  every  error  doth  not  make  a  man  a  heretic.  Mr.  Symmes 
said,  "It  was  not  seven  years,  nor  above  three  since  I  was  admonished, 
and  that  was  for  schism."  A  brother  replied,  "It  was  seven  years 
since  I  was  admonished."  A  difference  arising  for  what  he  was  ad- 
monished, "  Mr.  Symmes  pulled  a  bit  of  paper  out  of  his  pocket  and 
said,  *  This  is  that  he  was  admonished  for,  and  that  was  but  three 
years  since.'  Brother  Phips  asked  him  when  that  paper  was  writ,  for 
he  never  heard  of  that  admonition  before.  He  answered,  he  set  it 
down  for  his  own  memory  ;  then  he  read  it,  that  it  was  for  schism,  and 
rending  from  the  church.  I  told  him  I  did  not  rend  from  the  church, 
but  the  church  put  me  away  from  them  four  years  before  this.  Then 
there  was  much  agitation  when  the  admonition  was  given,  and  what  it 
was  for.  And  this  was  all  the  church  records  that  could  be  found  which 
was  about  seven  years  after  the  admonition  was  given ;  so  after  many 
words,  we  broke  up,  which  was  the  last  time  we  met  together.  Now 
let  any  man  judge  of  the  church  records  that  were  drawn  up  against 
me,  and  re<id  at  the  dispute  in  Boston,  which  contained  three  or  four 
sheets  of  paper — read  by  Mr.  Shepard,  and  drawn  up  by  him,  a  little 
while  before  the  dispute,  who  was  not  an  eye  nor  ear  witness  to  the 
church's  actings  not  above  half  the  time." 

After  this  Mr.  Gould  and  his  associates  embodied  themselves  into  a 
church.  The  church  hearing  of  this,  sent  three  messengers  to  him, 
telling  him  the  church  required  him  to  come  before  them  the  next 
Lord's  day.  He  replied,  the  church  had  nothing  to  do  with  him,  for 
they  had  put  him  from  them  eight  years  before.  He  said  he  was 
joined  to  another  church  and  that  church  was  not  willing  he  should 
come,  and  he  would  not  come  without  their  consent.  The  next  week 
the  same  number  of  messengers  came  to  him,  requiring  his  attendance 
the  next  Lord's  day.  He  again  declined.  They  told  him  that  if  he 
did  not  come,  the  church  would  proceed  against  him  the  next  Lord's 
day.  He  told  told  them  he  could  not  come,  for  they  were  to  break 
bread  the  next  Lord's  day.  "  The  last  day  of  that  week,  three  loving 
friends  coming  to  me  of  their  own  account,  one  of  them  said.  Brother 
Gould,  though  you  look  upon  it  as  unjust  for  them  to  cast  you  out, 
yet  there  be  many  that  are  godly  among  them  that  will  act  with  them 
through  ignorance,  which  will  be  a  few  of  them,  and  you  are  per- 
suaded I  believe  that  it  is  your  duty  to  prevent  any  one  from  any 
sinful  act,  for  they  will  cast  you  out  for  not  hearing  the  church ;  now 
your  coming  will  stop  them  from  acting  against  you,  and  so  keep  many 
from  that  sin.  Upon  these  words  I  was  clearly  convinced  that  it  was 
my  duty  to  go,  and  replied,  although  I  could  not  come  the  next  day, 
yet  I  promised  to  attend  the  following  Lord's  day.  He  replied,  what 
if  the  church  I  am  joined  to  was  not  willing  1  I  told  him  I  did  not 
question  that  any  one  would  be  against  it  upon  this  ground.  After  I 
had  propounded  it  to  the  church,  not  one  was  against  it.  I  entreated 
these  friends  to  make  it  known  to  the  elders  that  I  would  come  to 
them  the  next   Lord's  day   after  ;  yet,  though  they  knew  of  it,  they 


206 

proceeded  against  me  that  day,  and  delivered  me  up  to  Satan  for  not 
hearing  the  church." 

Such  is  Mr.  Gould's  own  account  of  this  unhappy  controversy.  A 
part  of  it,  it  will  be  seen,  respects  proceedings  of  which  we  have  no 
account  on  the  part  of  the  church,  and  if,  therefore,  it  should  receive 
all  the  consideration  which  similar  ex  parte  representations  are  com- 
monly held  entitled  to,  it  would  not  be  sufficient  to  prejudice  a  candid 
mind  against  Mr.  Symmes  and  the  church,  in  the  particulars  in  which 
it  bears  so  hard  against  them.  We  do  not  mean  to  say  that  nothing 
was  said  or  done  by  the  church  and  pastor,  in  the  excitement  and 
heat  of  the  controversy,  of  which  Mr.  Gould  might  not  justly  com- 
plain ;  we  would  on  the  contrary  give  to  his  narrative  all  the  confi- 
dence which  is  due  to  narratives  of  the  kind ;  but,  when  we  remember 
how  much  is  to  be  allowed  for  the  coloring  which  the  interested  party 
cannot  fail  to  impart  to  such  a  narrative,  how  long  a  period  of  time  it 
covers,  how  much  which  respected  the  action  of  the  church  he  was 
necessarily  ignorant  of  and  could  learn  only  from  others,  and  how 
long  after  the  transactions  he  mentions  his  narrative  was  in  all  proba- 
bility written,  we  shall  not  be  disposed  to  regard  the  entire  narrative 
as  a  veritable  history,  and  condemn  a  pastor  and  people  unheard  in 
self-defence,  on  the  testimony  of  a  single  witness,  and  he,  an  interested 
party,  though  we  doubt  not  of  honest  intentions. 

Between  Mr.  Gould's  narrative  and  the  church  records  some  contra- 
dictions will  be  observed,  He  denies  the  correctness  of  Mr.  Symmes' 
account,  and  implies  that  it  was  written  long  after  the  transactions 
mentioned.  Mr.  Symmes,  however,  concludes  his  record  of  the  meet- 
ing of  June  6,  165S,  thus  :  "  This  transaction  was  speedily,  after  the 
acting  thereof,  truly  recorded  by  the  then  only  elder  of  this  church, 
Zech:  St/mmes.'"  He  also  says,  that  the  church  records  read  in  the 
dispute  in  Boston,  were  drawn  up  at  that  time  by  Mr.  Shepard,  and 
that  he  was  not  an  eye  or  ear  witness  to  the  church's  actings  above 
half  the  time.  These  records  no  doubt  are  the  same  which  still  exist, 
and  they  have  every  appearance  of  having  been  written  at  the  time 
the  dates  specify,  being  interspersed  with  other  votes  and  transactions 
recorded  in  like  manner  under  their  respective  dates.  And  to  all  the 
transactions  which  he  recorded,  Mr.  Shepard  was  undoubtedly  a  wit- 
ness. Mr.  Gould  was  excommunicated  July  30,  1665,  and  Mr.  Shep- 
ard was  settled  April  13,  1659,  more  than  six  years  before  and  less 
than  a  year  after  the  commencement  of  this  case  of  discipline,  as 
recorded  by  Mr.  Symmes  June  6,  165S. 

I  have  no  disposition  to  rake  over  the  ashes  of  this  ancient  contro- 
versy, or  unnecessarily  to  say  one  word  in  disparagement  of  Mr. 
Gould.  But  when  his  narrative  is  adopted  as  unmingled  truth,  as  it 
has  been  by  Backus  and  Benedict,  who  have  incorporated  it  into  their 
respective  histories,  notwithstanding  its  contrariety  to  the  official 
records  of  the  church,  and  apparently  without  an  effort  to  sift  the  evi- 
dence on  both  sides,  it  is  sufficiently  obvious  that  great  injustice  is 
done  to  the  memory  of  our  fathers.  Whoever  will  take  the  pains  to 
look  into  Willard's  Reply  to  Russell's  Narrative,  will  find  that  the 
statements  made  by  Mr.  Gould  and  reiterated  by  writers  of  that  denom- 
ination since,  were  from  the  first  contradicted.  Increase  Mather,  in 
the  preliminary  address  to  the  Reader,  says  he  verily  believes  that  the 


207 

Anabaptists,  by  their  fallacious  narrative,  have  offended  God,  inasmuch 
as  the  things  they  have  misrepresented  were  not  done  afar  off,  but  at 
home,  where  right  information  was  easy  to  be  had  ;  if  they  had  been 
willing  to  have  known  and  that  others  should  know  the  truth.  "  As 
for  those,"  he  says,  "of  the  Antipedobaptistical  persuasion,  who  differ 
from  us  only  in  that  particular,  I  would  speak  to  them  as  unto  breth- 
ren, whom  (their  error — for  so  I  believe  it  is — notwithstanding)  I  love, 
and  would  bear  with,  and  exercise  the  same  indulgence  and  compas- 
sion towards  them,  as  I  would  have  others  do  to  me,  who  feel  myself 
compassed  with  infirmities.  I  have  been  a  poor  laborer  in  the  Lord's 
vineyard,  in  this  place,  upwards  of  twenty  years  ;  and  it  is  more  than 
I  know,  if,  in  all  that  time,  any  of  those  that  scruple  infant  baptism, 
have  met  with  molestation  from  the  magistrate  merely  on  account  of 
their  opinion."  "  I  truly  profess,"  he  says,  "  that  if  any  men,  either 
of  the  Presbyterian  or  Congregational  (or  never  so  much  of  my)  per- 
suasion, in  matters  referring  to  church  discipline,  should  behave 
themselves  as  the  Anabaptists  in  Boston,  in  New  England,  have  done, 
I  think  they  would  have  deserved  far  greater  punishment  than  any 
thing  that  to  this  day  hath  been  inflicted  upon  them." 

And  in  regard  to  the  particular  cases  of  Gould  and  Osborn,  Mr. 
Willard,  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  Old  South  Church,  says,  in  reply- 
ing to  Russell's  Narrative,  that  "  the  narrative  and  truth  are  strangers, 
whereof  there  is  suflicient  testimony  to  be  found  in  the  records  of  the 
church  at  Charlestown,  (whereof  they  were  members  ;)  and  there  are 
many  faithful  witnesses  yet  alive  — who  were  present  at  these  transac- 
tions, and  can  say  if  these  things  be  not  so — which  ought  to  outweigh 
the  story  of  a  prejudiced  person,  who  hath  all  by  hearsay,  whose  very 
business  is  to  palliate  and  lick  over  matters  to  shape  them  to  his  own 
turn."  And  then  he  proceeds  to  mention  the  particulars  in  which  the 
Narrative  had  mis-stated  the  reasons  for  Mr.  Gould's  discipline  and 
excommunication.  He  asserts  that  he  was  admonished,  not  for  with- 
holding his  child  from  baptism,  or  because  he  could  not  be  convinced 
of  error,  but  for  speaking  contemptuously  of  the  ordinance,  and  unbe- 
coming conduct  in  the  time  of  administration,  by  which,  he  acknowl- 
edged before  the  congregation  he  designed  to  cast  disrespect  upon  it. 
"  Now  let  the  Anabaptists  themselves  judge,  whether  there  be  not  a 
vast  difference,  between  doubting  about  an  ordinance,  and  professedly 
vilifying  of  it  by  unhandsome  words  and  carriages  ;  and  whether  they 
will  bear  with  any  member  of  theirs,  that  will  so  contemn  any  of 
those  things  which  are  to  them  sacred,  and  acknowledged  as  Christ's 
institutions." 

But  I  do  not  intend  to  go  into  the  merits  of  this  controversy.  My 
only  design  has  been  to  do  justice  to  the  church  and  its  pastors,  in 
opposition  to  those  partizan  representations,  which  by  adopting  with- 
out examination  the  statement  of  one  of  the  parties,  throws  all  the 
blame  upon  the  other.' 

*  Backus's  Hist,  of  the  Baptists,  chap.  6.     Willard's  Ne  Sutor  ultra  Crepidaun. 


208 

Note  26/   page  62. 
OLD   SOUTH   CHURCH. 

The  Old  South  Church  was  not  only  organized  in  Charlestown, 
but  received  its  most  important  member  from  this  church — the  Rev. 
Thomas  Thatcher,  who  was  elected  and  ordained  their  first  pastor. 
He  was  admitted  to  this  church,  October  24,  1669,  by  a  letter  of  dis- 
mission from  the  First  Church  in  Boston,  given  October  9.  The 
original  letter  of  this  church,  dismissing  and  recommending  Mr. 
Thatcher  to  the  Old  South  Church,  is  preserved  among  the  papers  of 
that  church. 


Note  27,  page  66. 
FRANCIS   WILLOUGHBY. 

Immediately  after  the  name  of  Mr.  Symmes,  in  the  register  of 
deaths,  is  that  of  Mr.  Francis  Willoughby,  who  died  April  4,  1671. 
His  character  and  services  demand  a  passing  notice.  He  was  Deputy 
Governor  of  the  colony  from  1665  to  1671.  He  left  an  estate  of 
.£4,050.  His  wife  afterwards  married  Capt.  Lawrence  Hammond, 
who  was  likewise  a  distinguished  citizen  and  leading  member  of  the 
church. 

There  is  a  curious  old  manuscript  volume,  belonging  to  the  Anti- 
quarian Society  at  Worcester,  containing  a  journal  written  in  a  very 
difficult  cypher,  which  appears  from  certain  internal  evidences,  to 
have  been  written  by  Gov.  Willoughby.  I  found  a  large  loose  sheet, 
folded  between  the  pages  of  the  journal,  in  the  hand-writing  of  Thomas 
Shepard  the  2d,  and  seeming  to  be  a  key,  in  part,  to  the  cypher.  But 
notwithstanding  the  aid  thus  afforded,  and  the  assistance  of  skilful 
friends,  I  have  been  unable  to  decypher  it,  or  even  judge  of  the  com- 
parative value  of  its  contents.  It  is  entitled  "  A  continuation  of  my 
daily  observation,"  and  comprises  a  period  of  time  from  1.  9mo.  1650, 
to  28.  lOmo.  1651.  It  was  certainly  written  in  Charlestown,  for  on 
the  first  page  is  a  brief  account,  not  written  in  cypher,  of  a  fire,  which 
consumed  eleven  or  twelve  houses,  21.  9mo.  1650.  In  an  ancient 
interleaved  almanac,  in  the  possession  of  Rev.  Mr.  Sewall  of  Burling- 
ton, is  a  notice  of  this  fire,  under  the  same  date,  as  happening  in 
Charlestown,  proving  conclusively  that  the  journal  was  written  in 
Charlestown.  And  no  doubt  this  is  the  calamity  to  which  Johnson 
alludes  in  his  "  Wonder  Working  Providence,"  and  which  he  describes 
as  a  "  terrible  fire  which  happened  in  Charles-Town,  in  the  depth  of 
Winter,  1650,  by  a  violent  wind  blown  from  one  house  to  another,  to 
the  consuming  of  the  fairest  houses  in  the  Town."  '^ 

»  Misprinted  28.  ^  2  Hist.  Coll.  viii.  24. 


209 

Note  28,  page  72. 

MR.  SYMMES. 

From  the  "Gleanings"  by  Mr.  Savage,  in  his  late  visit  to  England, 
we  derive  the  following  record  of  the  baptism  of  children  born  to  Mr. 
Syinmes,  while  he  was  rector  of  Dunstable,  which  was  from  September, 
1625  to  1633. 

William,  baptized January  10,  1626. 

Marie,   .     .     " April  16,  16-^8. 

Elizabeth,  .     « January  1,  1629. 

Huldah,      .     " March  18,  1630. 

Hannah,     .     " August  22,  1632. 

Rebekah,  .     " February  12,  1633. 

The  following   baptisms   are  recorded  upon  our  church  books  : 

Ruth,  .     baptized October  2.5,  1635. 

Zachary,    .     " January  12,  1638. 

Timothy,    .     " May  12,  1640. 

Deborah,    .     " September  6,  1642. 

This  is  exactly  the  number  of  the  children  of  Mr.  Symmes,  when 
Johnson  wrote  the  following  eulogy  on  his  wife. 

"  Among  all  the  godly  women  that  came  through  the  perilous  seas 
to  war  their  warfare,  the  wife  of  this  zealous  teacher,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Symmes,  shall  not  be  omitted,  nor  any  other,  but  to  avoid  tediousness; 
the  virtuous  woman,  endued  by  Christ,  with  graces  fit  for  a  wilderness 
condition — her  courage  exceeding  her  stature — with  much  cheerful- 
ness did  undergo  all  the  difficulties  of  these  times  of  straits,  her  God 
through  faith  in  Christ,  supplying  all  wants  with  great  industry,  nur- 
turing up  her  young  children  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord — their  number 
being  ten,  both  sons  and  daughters,  a  certain  sign  of  the  Lord's  intent 
to  people  this  vast  wilderness.  God  grant  that  they  may  be  valiant  in 
faith  against  sin,  Satan,  and  all  the  enemies  of  Christ's  kingdom,  follow- 
ing the  example  of  their  father  and  grandfather,  who  have  both  suffered 
for  the  same,  in  remembrance  of  whom  these  following  lines  are  placed  : 

"  Come,  Zachary,  thou  must  re-edify 

Christ's  churches  in  this  desert  laud  of  his, 
With  Moses'  zeal,  stamp'd  unto  dust,  defy 

All  crooked  ways  that  Christ's  true  worship  miss. 
With  Spirit's  sword,  and  armor  girt  about, 

Thou  layest  on  load  proud  Prelate's  crown  to  crack, 
And  wilt  not  suffer  wolves  thy  flock  to  rout, 

Tho'  close  they  creep,  with  sheep  skins  on  their  back. 
Thy  father's  spirit  doubled  is  upon 

Thee,  Symmes — then  war,  thy  father  fighting  died  ; 
In  prayer,  then,  prove  thou  like  champion, 

Hola  out  till  death,  and  Christ  will  crown  provide." 

Mather  says  that  his  epitaph  "  mentions  his  having  lived  forty-nine 
years  seven  months  with  his  virtuous  consort,  by  whom  he  had  thirteen 
children,  five  sons  and  eight  daughters." 

He  also  preserves  the  following  "  passage,  written  by  Mr.  William 
Symmes,  the  father  of  our  Zechariah,  in  a  book  which  was  made  by  a 
27 


210 

godly  preacher,  that  was  hid  in  the  house  of  Mr.  William  Symmes,  the 
father  of  William,  from  the  rage  of  the  Marian  persecution." 

"'  I  note  it  as  a  special  mercy  of  God,'  (he  writes  in  a  leaf  of  that 
book,)  '  that  both  my  fiither  and  mother  were  favorers  of  the  gospel, 
and  hated  idolatry  under  Queen  Mary's  persecution.  I  came  to  this 
book  by  this  means :  going  to  Sandwich  in  Kent,  to  preach,  the  first 
or  second  year  after  I  was  ordained  a  minister.  Anno  1587  or  88,  and 
preaching  in  St.  Mary's,  where  Mr.  Pawson,  an  ancient  godly  preacher, 
was  minister,  who  knew  my  parents  well,  and  me  too,  at  school;  he, 
after  I  had  finished  my  sermons,  came  and  brought  me  this  book  for  a 
present,  acquainting  me  with  tl>e  above-mentioned  circumstances;'  and 
then  he  adds,  '  I  charge  my  sons  Zechariah  and  William,  before  Him 
that  shall  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead,  that  you  never  defile  your- 
selves with  any  idolatry  or  superstition  whatsoever,  but  learn  your 
religion  out  of  God's  holy  word,  and  worship  God,  as  he  himself  hath 
prescribed,  and  not  after  the  devices  and  traditions  of  men.  Scripsi, 
December  6,  1002.'  " 

Of  the  children  of  Mr.  Symmes,  Mary  was  married  to  Capt.  Thomas 
Savage,  15th  7mo.  1652.  Elizabeth  married  Hezekiah  Usher,  and 
another  daughter  married  Samuel  Hough.  • 

Zechariah  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1657,  and  married  Susan- 
na Graves,  of  this  town,  November  18,  1669,  and  the  birth  and  bap- 
tism of  their  daughter  Katharine,  is  recorded  March  29,  and  April  2, 
1676,  He  was  ordained  December  27,  1682,  the  first  minister  of 
Bradford,  where  he  had  previously  preached  fourteen  years.  He  died 
there  1708,  aged  seventy-one. 

His  son,  Rev.  Thomas  Symmes,  was  born  February  1,  1678,  gradu- 
ated at  Harvard  College,  1698,  and  was  ordained  in  1702,  the  first 
minister  of  Boxford.  But  being  dismissed  in  1708,  he  was  installed 
the  same  year  in  Bradford,  successor  to  his  father,  and  died  October 
6,  1725,  aged  forty-eight.  From  an  interesting  and  valuable  memoir 
of  him,  by  Rev.  John  Brown,  of  Haverhill,  published  in  1726,  we 
learn  that  he  was  distinguished  for  his  eloquence  as  a  preacher,  his 
piety  as  a  Christian,  and  faithfulness  as  a  pastor.  He  received  his 
preparatory  education  in  the  grammar-school,  at  Charlestown,  under 
the  instruction  of  the  famous  master  Emerson,  who  was  afterwards 
school-master  at  Salem,  where  he  died.  He  was  sustained  at  college 
by  the  help  of  benefactors,  and  distinguished  himself  by  his  scholar- 
ship and  real  piety.  He  was  married  three  times.  His  first  wife  was 
Elizabeth  Blowers,  of  Cambridge ;  his  second,  Hannah,  daughter  of 
Rev.  John  Pike,  of  Dover  ;  and  his  third,  Mrs.  Eleanor,  widow  of 
Eliezer  Moody,  of  Dedham,  and  daughter  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Thomp- 
son, of  Braintree,  who  survived  him.  He  left  eight  children,  the 
eldest  of  whom,  Thomas,  resided  in  Charlestown,  and  became  a  dea- 
con in  the  church.  I  have  been  quite  desirous  to  make  some  extracts 
from  his  memoir,  especially  from  the  farewell  advice  he  composed  and 
left  for  his  children,  and  in  which  he  alludes  very  feelingly  to  the  bap- 
tismal covenant,  in  which  he  had  given  them  to  God.  But  I  must  refer 
to  the  "  plain  memorative  account "  of  him,  annexed  to  the  sermon 
preached  on  occasion  of  his  death.' 

'  See  alio  Gage's  Hist,  of  Rowley, 


211 

Note  29,  page  73. 

DANIEL  RUSSELL. 

An  elegy,  composed  on  the  death  of  this  gentleman,  is  now  in  pos- 
session of  the  Rev.  Charles  Lowell,  D.  D.,  of  Boston.  Some  further 
notices  respecting  him,  and  the  distinguished  family  to  which  he 
belonged,  will  be  given  in  note  57. 


Note  30,  page  72. 
SEATING  THE  MEETING-HOUSE. 

"  February  1,  1675.  Agreed  with  John  Fosdick  and  Nathaniel 
Frothingham,  to  provide  all  timber,  and  build  three  galleries,  one  in 
the  front,  and  one  on  each  side  in  the  meeting-house,  and  to  make  two 
seats,  one  before  the  other,  in  the  galleries,  and  to  make  a  pair  of  stairs 
to  each  gallery,  and  to  alter  the  lower  stairs  going  up  to  the  men's  gal- 
leries, so  as  may  be  most  convenient  for  an  outlet;  the  side  galleries  to 
run  from  the  front  gallery  home  to  the  opposite  wall ;  the  town  to  find 
boards  and  nails,  and  to  pay  for  the  said  work,  when  completely  finished, 
^46  hi  town  pay  ;  and  if  it  shall  appear  a  hard  bargain,  twenty  shillings 
more.  Attest,  L.  Hammond,  Recorder." 

The  business  of  assigning  seats  to  the  people,  belonged  formerly  to 
the  selectmen  of  the  tovvn.  Frequent  orders  may  be  met  with  on  the 
town  books  for  seating  individuals.  The  men  and  women  appear  to 
have  sat  on  different  sides  of  the  house.  The  boys  had  one  of  the 
galleries  assigned  to  them,  and  constituted  a  part  of  the  congregation 
which  the  fathers  of  the  town  found  it  difficult  to  manage.  The  fol- 
lowing extract  exhibits  one  of  the  expedients  they  devised. 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  selectmen,  March  23,  1674.  The  persons 
hereinafter  mentioned,  are  appointed  to  look  after  the  boys,  and  keep 
them  in  order  in  the  meeting-house,  upon  the  Sabbath  and  lecture  days, 
for  the  year  ensuing,  twenty-four  persons  being  ordered  to  sit  two  for 
each  month;  viz.. 


Month  1.  John  Larkin, 

Thomas  Larkin  ; 
"       2.  Gyles  Fyfield, 

Luke  Perkins; 
"       3.  Thomas  Adams, 

Richard  Adams; 
"       4.  John  Knight,  Jr., 

Thomas  Brigden ; 
"       5.  John  Cutler,  Jr., 

John  Dowse  ; 
"       6.  Samuel  Dowse, 

Tymothy  Cutler ; 


Month  7.  William  Everton, 

Thomas  Hett; 
<'       8.  John  Bennet, 

John  Goodwin  ; 
"       9.  Nathaniel  Kettle, 

Henry  Balcom  ; 
«     10.  Richard  Tayler, 

Robert  Barret; 
"     11.  Joseph  Frost, 

John  Simson  ; 
"     12.  Jonathan  Simson, 

Nathaniel  Hutchinson, 


212 

"  To  the  respective  persons  above  written: 

"  Gentlemen — The  sense  of  the  necessity  of  the  inspection  and 
government  of  youth,  at  times  of  public  worshipping  of  God  in  our 
meeting-house,  and  finding  that  the  way  taken  to  that  end  the  last 
year,  through  the  care  and  diligence  of  the  persons  attending  that 
work,  did  very  much  reach  our  end  propounded,  we  are  encouraged  to 
proceed  the  same  way  this  year  also,  and  accordingly  request  you 
respectively  to  take  your  turns  in  attending  the  said  work,  according 
to  the  method  hereafter  propounded,  in  which  we  do  desire  you  to  do 
your  utmost,  that  all  children  and  youth  that  are  under  age,  may  be  as 
much  within  your  inspection  as  the  convenience  of  seats  will  admit 
of;  not  permitting  them  to  scatter  up  and  down  in  obscure  places, 
where  they  may  be  from  under  a  due  observance,  wherein,  if  need  be, 
you  shall  have  the  assistance  of  the  constable.  Your  faithful  attend- 
ance hereunto  will  doubtless  be  a  service  acceptable  to  God  and  your 
brethren,  remembering  that  to  be  a  door-keeper  in  the  house  of  God, 
was  of  high  esteem  with  holy  David.  We  further  desire  your  care  to 
prevent  the  disorderly  running  out  of  youth  in  time  of  public  worship. 
"  By  order  of  selectmen, 

"  Lawr.  Hammond,  Recorder" 

This  practice  Avas  continued  until  1682,  when  Luke  Perkins  was 
appointed  to  attend  to  this  business,  for  which  he  was  to  receive  <£3 
per  annum.  The  experience,  however,  of  both  ancient  and  modern 
times,  has  shown  that  children  ought  not  to  be  separated  from  their 
parents,  but  that  families  ought  to  sit  together  in  the  house  of  God. 


Note  31,  page  73. 

TOLERATION. 

It  has  been  very  common  to  reproach  our  fathers  as  having  exhibited 
the  spirit  of  intolerance  and  persecution  in  the  worst  forms.  They 
have  been  represented  as  narrow-minded  bigots  in  their  attachment  to 
their  own  sentiments,  and  fierce  persecutors  in  their  indiscriminate 
hatred  to  all  who  differed  in  any  measure  from  them.  No  candid  per- 
son, acquainted  with  the  character  of  the  Puritans  and  with  the  times  in 
which  they  lived,  will  hesitate  to  pronounce  this  representation  false 
and  slanderous.  They  were  the  pioneer  reformers  of  the  age  in  which 
they  lived  ;  and  if  they  faded  to  carry  out  their  principles  consistently, 
they  only  fell,  in  these  respects,  into  the  opinions  that  reigned  univer- 
sally around  them.  Those  who  came  after  them,  and  took  their  prin- 
ciples for  granted,  were  able,  in  the  light  of  their  experience,  to  see 
clearly  the  results  to  which  those  principles  led.  The  fathers  of  New , 
England  effected  a  wider  separation  between  the  church  and  the  state 
than  had  ever  existed  before — erected  a  wider  platform  of  religious 
freedom  than  the  laws  of  any  other  people  allowed  ;  and  if  they  did 
not  go  to  the  full  extent  of  what  we  now  regard  as  just  and  expe- 
dient, we  convict  ourselves  of  bigotry,  if  we  severely  censure  them. 


213 

When  we  consider  the  state  of  Christendom  at  that  time,  and  reflect  at 
what  cost  they  had  planted  themselves  here  to  establish  their  own  prin- 
ciples of  church  order,  and  how  dangerous  opposition  and  dissent 
were  to  their  institutions  in  their  feeble  beginnings,  we  may  well  won- 
der that  they  practiced  as  much  toleration  as  they  did.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Albro,  in  his  eloquent  and  ingenious  "  Discourse  on  the  Fathers  of 
New  England,"  delivered  December  22d,  1844,  maintains  that  no 
instance  of  persecution,  properly  so  called,  can  be  justly  imputed  to 
them.  Whether  we  are  prepared  to  admit  this  or  not,  we  shall  be 
persuaded,  upon  investigation,  that  justice  has  not  been  done  to  either 
the  principles  or  the  conduct  of  our  fathers  in  respect  of  toleration. 
We  do  not  believe  that  they  are  justly  chargeable  with  a  persecuting, 
intolerant  spirit ;  and  we  do  not  claim  for  them  on  the  other  hand,  the 
merit  of  having  discovered  and  carried  out  consistently,  the  principle 
of  religious  toleration.  No  one  body  of  men  are  entitled  to  this 
praise  ;  but  we  believe  that  among  those  who  have  contributed  to  this 
great  result,  no  class  of  men  bore  a  more  honorable  and  efficient  part 
than  our  fathers. 

The  following  extracts  from  several  election  sermons,  will  exhibit 
the  light  in  which  this  doctrine  was  held  by  the  fathers.  The  first  is 
from  Mr.  Shepard's  sermon,  from  which  I  have  made  extracts  in  the 
Lecture ;  the  second  is  from  Rev.  John  Higginson's  election  sermon 
of  1663 ;  and  the  last  from  Rev.  W.  Stoughton's,  of  1668. 

"  Let  the  magistrate's  coercive  power  in  matters  of  religion  be  still 
asserted,  seeing  he  is  one  who  is  bound  to  God,  more  than  any  other 
men,  to  cherish  his  true  religion;  and  as  the  good  kings  of  Judah, 
commended  for  it  in  Scripture,  Asa,  Jehosaphat,  Hezekiah,  Josiah, 
&:.c.,  therefore  are  they  to  be  principal  instruments  in  furthering  the 
reformation  aforesaid  ;  and  I  would  leave  it  with  any  godly,  sober 
Christian  to  consider  and  answer,  whether  the  interest  of  religion  hath 
not  as  good  a  title  and  plea  for  the  magistrate's  protection,  as  [not  any 
irreligion  which  self-conceit  and  humor  hath  wedded  any  unto,  but]  any 
worldly  interest  whatsoever  ?  and  how  woful  would  the  state  of  things 
soon  be  among  us,  if  men  might  have  liberty  without  control,  to  pro- 
fess, or  preach,  or  print,  or  publish  what  they  list,  tending  to  the 
seduction  of  others  !  and  though  the  enemy  soweth  tares,  which  cannot 
be  many  times  plucked  up  without  danger  to  the  wheat,  and  are  there- 
fore let  alone,  yet  would  I  hope  none  of  the  Lord's  husbandmen  will 
be  so  foolish  as  to  sow  tares,  or  plead  for  the  sowing  of  them ;  I  mean 
in  the  way  of  the  toleration  aforesaid,  when  as  it  may  be  prevented, 
the  light  of  nature  and  right  reason  would  cry  out  against  such  a 
thing."  ' 

"  The  cause  of  God  and  his  people  among  us  is  not  a  toleration  of 
all  religions,  or  of  the  heresies  and  idolatries  of  the  age  we  live  in.  I 
say,  not  a  toleration  of  these  so  far  as  we  have  liberty  and  power  for  to 
help  it.  How  inconsistent  would  such  a  toleration  be  with  the  love  of 
the  one  true  religion  revealed  in  the  word  of  God  ?  would  not  such  a 
state  be  guilty  of  having  other  gods,  where  such  a  toleration  is  ?  is  not 

•  Shepard's  Election  Sermon,  p.  38. 


214 

the  end  of  civil  authority,  that  men  may  live  a  quiet  and  peaceable  life, 
in  godliness  as  well  as  honest  1/  ?  but  not  in  the  ways  of  ungodliness,  no 
more  than  in  the  ways  of  dishonesty  ;  in  a  word,  the  gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ  hath  a  right  paramount,  all  rights  in  the  world ;  it  hath  a  divine 
and  supreme  right  to  be  received  in  every  nation,  and  the  knee  of  ma- 
gistracy is  to  bow  at  the  name  of  Jesus.  This  right  carries  liberty 
along  with  it,  for  all  such  as  profess  the  gospel,  to  walk  according  to 
the  faith  and  order  of  the  gospel.  That  which  is  contrary  to  the 
gospel,  hath  no  right,  and  therefore  should  have  no  liberty.  But  the 
laws  which  have  been  made  for  the  civil  government  here,  with  respect 
unto  religion,  whereby  you  have  declared  your  professed  subjection  to 
the  gospel,  and  your  non-toleration  of  that  which  is  contrary  thereunto  ; 
this  will  be  a  name  and  a  glory  to  New  England  so  long  as  the  sun  and 
moon  endure."  ' 

*'  Circumstantial  differences  ought  not  to  breed  substantial  divisions ; 
that  would  be  a  monstrous  and  gignntine  birth.  It  is  a  wrong  done  to 
the  Christian  name,  so  much  as  to  question,  whether  that  diversity  of 
apprehension  in  lesser  and  dubious  matters  amongst  the  Lord's  people, 
ought  to  be  borne  withall,  which  can  and  doth  suffer  a  regulation,  in 
order  to  the  unity  and  peace  of  the  whole.  But  yet,  the  true  Chris- 
tian, gospel  liberty,  was  never  unto  this  day  a  womb  big  with  licen- 
tiousness. And  here  there  is  one  position,  that  methinks  can  never  be 
denied  by  any  that  have  but  the  common  principles  of  reason  entire  ; 
viz.,  'That  no  persuasion  or  practice  can  ever,  in  the  conscience  of 
the  contrary-minded,  have  a  good  right  to  public  liberty  and  counte- 
nance, which,  being  thoroughly  attended  to,  doth  indeed  tend  to  the 
undermining,  and  so  in  the  issue,  to  the  overthrow  of  the  state  of  these 
churches,  in  that  wherein  it  is  of  God,  and  hath  been  largely  and 
plentifully  owned  by  him.  And  of  this  case,  and  the  application 
thereof,  those  who  are  in  authority  may,  and  ought  to  judge.  And 
further,  who  can  therefore  think  it  much,  if  such  opinions  (as  are  not 
only  in  themselves,  but  even  in  the  minds  of  those  who  hold  them,  un- 
churching to  so  many  precious  societies  of  Christ,  I  mean  as  to  their 
visible  church  state)  be  very  harsh  and  unpleasant,  and  the  uncontrolled 
scope  of  them  much  more  distasteful  ?  Certainly,  a  weaker  body  can- 
not, ought  not  to  do  that,  or  suffer  that  upon  itself,  or  in  itself,  upon 
the  account  of  charity  to  another,  which  a  stronger  body  may,  and  in 
some  cases  may  be  bound  to  do  or  suffer."* 


1  Rev.  John  Higffinson's  Election  Sermon,  May  27,  1663. 
*  Rev.  \V.  Stoughlon's  Election  Sermon,  April  29,  1668. 


215 

Note  32,  page  76, 

EPITAPH  OF  THOMAS   SHEPARD. 

The  following  Latin  epitaph,  Mather  says,  was  engraved  on  Shep- 
ard's  tomb-stone : 

D.  O.  M.  S. 

Repositse  sunt  hie  Reliquiae  Thomae  Shepardi, 

Viri  Sanclissimi, 

Eruditione,  virtute,  omnigena,  moribusq.  suavissimis  ornatisslmi ; 

Theologi   Consuitissimi, 

Concionatoris  Eximii : 

Qui  Filius  fuit  Thomse  Shepardi  Clarissimus, 

Memoratissinii  Pastoris  otim  Ecclesiee  Cantabrigiensis  ; 

Et  Ecclesia  Caroiiensi  Presbyter  docens  ; 

Fide  ac  vita  varus  Episcopus  : 

Optim^  de  Re  hteraria  IVIeritus: 

Qua  Curator  Collegii  Harvardini  vigilantissimus  ; 

Qua  Municipii  Academici  Socius  Primarius. 

Ta  TOW  Itjaov  Xqiotov,  ov  la  cavrov  ZtjTtov. 

In  D,  Jesu  placid^  obdormivit,  Anno  1677,  Dec.  22. 

^tatis  suae  43. 

Totius  Nov-anglise  Lachrymis  Defletus  ; 

Usq  5  et  Usq  ;  Deflendus. 


Note  33,  page  78. 
OAKES'S  ELEGY. 

As  a  further  testimonial  of  Mr.  Shepard's  worth  of  character,  and 
Mr.  Oakes's  aifection  for  his  friend,  I  have  transcribed  a  considerable 
part  of  the  elegy  written  by  Mr.  Oakes,  on  occasion  of  his  friend's 
death.  "  The  elegy,"  says  Dr.  Holmes,'  "  rises,  in  my  judgment,  far 
above  the  poetry  of  his  day.  It  is  of  Pindaric  measure,  and  is  plain- 
tive, pathetic,  and  full  of  imagery." 

"  An  elegy  upon  that  reverend,  learned,  eminently  pious,  and  singu- 
larly accomplished  divine,  my  ever  honored  brother,  Mr.  Thomas 
Shepard,  the  late  faithful  and  worthy  teacher  of  the  church  of  Christ, 
at  Charlestown,  in  New  England,  who  finished  his  course  on  earth, 
and  went  to  receive  his  crown,  December  22,  1677,  in  the  forty-third 
year  of  his  age. — In  fifty-two  stanzas. 


Oh !  that  I  were  a  poet  now  in  grain ! 
How  would  I  invocate  the  muses  all 
To  deign  their  presence,  lend  their  flowing  vein, 
And  help  to  grace  dear  Shepard's  funeral  ! 

How  would  I  paint  our  griefs,  and  succors  borrow 
From  art  and  fancy,  to  limn  out  our  sorrow ! 


>  1  Hist  Coll.  vii.  53. 


216 


Art,  Nature,  Grace,  in  him  were  all  combined 

To  show  the  world  a  matchless  Paragon, 
In  whom  of  radiant  virtues  no  less  shined, 
Than  a  whole  constellation;  but  he  's  gone  ! 
He  's  gone,  alas  !  down  in  the  dust  must  lie 
As  much  oi  this  rare  person  as  could  die. 


If  to  have  solid  judgment,  pregnant  parts, 

A  piercing  wit,  and  comprehensive  brain — 
If  to  have  gone  the  round  of  all  the  arts, 
Immunity  from  Death's  arrest  would  gain, 

Shepard  would  have  been  death-proof  and  secure 
From  that  all-conquering  hand,  I'm  very  sure. 


If  holy  life,  and  deeds  of  charity — 

If  grace  illustrious,  and  virtue  tried — 
If  modest  carriage,  rare  humility, 

Could  have  bribed  death,  good  Shepard  had  not  died. 
Oh  !  but  inexorable  Death  attacks 
The  best  men,  and  promiscuous  havoc  makes. 


To  be  descended  well,  doth  that  commend  ? 

Can  sons  their  father's  glory  call  their  own? 
Our  Shepard  justly  might  to  this  pretend, 
(His  blessed  Father  was  of  high  renown, 
Both  Englands  speak  him  great,  admire  his  name,) 
But  his  own  personal  worth  's  a  better  claim. 


Great  was  his  Father,  once  a  glorious  light 

Among  us,  fiimous  to  a  high  degree — 
Great  was  this  son  :  indeed,  (to  do  him  right,) 
As  great  and  good  (to  say  no  more)  as  He. 
A  double  portion  of  his  Father's  spirit 
Did  this  (his  eldest)  son,  through  grace  inherit. 


His  look  commanded  reverence  and  awe, 
Though  mild  and  amiable,  not  austere : 
Well  humored  was  he  as  I  ever  saw. 

And  ruled  by  love  and  wisdom,  more  than  fear. 
The  Muses  and  the  Graces  too,  conspired 
To  set  forth  this  rare  piece,  to  be  admired. 


He  governed  well  the  tongue,  (that  busy  thing. 

Unruly,  lawless,  and  pragmatical,) 
Gravely  reserved,  in  speech  not  lavishing. 
Neither  too  sparing,  nor  too  liberal. 

His  words  were  few,  well  seasoned,  wisely  weighed. 
And  in  his  tongue  the  law  of  kindness  swayed. 


Learned  he  was  beyond  the  common  size, 
Befriended  much  by  Nature  in  his  Wit, 
And  Temper,  (sweet,  sedate,  ingenious,  wise,) 

And  (which  ciowned  all)  he  was  Heaven's   Favorite, 
On  whom  the  God  of  all  grace  did  command. 
And  shower  down  blessings  with  a  liberal  hand. 


217 


Wise  he,  not  wily  was;  grave,  not  morose ; 

Not  stiff,  but  steady;  serious,  but  not  sour; 
Concerned  for  all,  as  if  he  had  no  foes; 

(Strange  if  he  had  I)  and  would  not  waste  an  hour. 
Thoughtful  and  active  for  the  common  good, 
And  yet  his  own  place  wisely  understood. 


Nothing  could  make  him  stray  from  duty;  death 

Was  not  so  frightful  to  him,  as  omission 
Of  ministerial  work;  he  feared  no  breath 

Infectious,  i'  th'  discharge  of  his  commission. 
Rather  than  run  from  's  work,  he  chose  to  die. 
Boldly  to  run  on  death,  than  duty  fly. 


Zealous  in  God's  cause,  but  meek  in  his  own; 

Modest  of  nature,  bold  as  any  lion, 
Where  conscience  was  concerned ;    and  there  were  none 
More  constant  mourners  for  atflicted  Zion. 
So  general  was  his  care  for  th'  churches  all. 
His  spirit  seemed  apostolical. 


Large  was  his  heart,  to  spend  without  regret — 

Rejoicing  to  do  good ;  not  like  those  moles. 
That  root  i'  th'  earth,  or  roam  abroad,  to  get 
All  for  themselves  (those  sorry,  narrow  souls  !) 
But  he,  like  the  sun,  (i'  th'  centre  as  some  say,) 
Diffused  his  rays  of  goodness  every  way. 


He  breathed  love,  and  pursued  peace  in  his  day. 

As  if  his  soul  were  made  of  harmony ; 
Scarce  ever  more  oi  goodness'  crowded  lay 
In  such  a  piece  of  frail  mortality. 

Sure,  father  Wilson's  genuine  son  was  he — 
New  England's  Paul  had  such  a  Timothy. 


No  slave  to  the  world's  grand  idols — but  he  flew 

At  fairer  quarries,  without  stooping  down 
To  sublunary  prey.     His  great  soul  knew 
Ambition  none,  but  of  the  Heavenly  Crown. 

Now  he  hath  won  it,  and  shall  wear  't  with  honor. 
Adoring  grace,  and  God  in  Christ,  the  Donor. 


A  friend  to  truth — a  constant  foe  to  error — 

Powerful  i'  th'  pulpit,  and  sweet  in  converse; 
To  weak  ones,  gentle — to  the  profane,  a  terror. 
Who  can  his  virtues  and  good  works  rehearse  .' 
The  Scripture  Bishop's  character  read  o'er, 
Say  this  was  Shepard's — what  need  I  say  more? 


I  say  no  more;  let  them  that  can  declare 

His  rich  and  rare  endowments,  paint  this  sun. 
With  all  his  dazzling  rays;  but  1  despair. 
Hopeless  by  any  hand  to  see  it  done. 
They  that  can  Shepard's  goodness  well  display. 
Must  be  as  good  as  he — but  who  are  they .' 

28 


218 


See  where  our  Sister  Charlestown,  sits  and  moans ! 
Poor  widowed  Cliarlestown !  all  in  dust,  in  tears! 
Mark   how  she  wrings  her  hands!    hear  how  she  groans! 
See  how  she  weeps  !     What  sorrow  like  to  hers  ! 
Charlestown,  that  might  lor  joy  compare  of  late 
With  all  about  her,  now  looks  desolate. 


As  you  have  seen  some  pale,  wan,  ghastly  look. 
When  grisly  death,  that  will  not  be  said  nay. 
Hath  seized  all  for  itself,  possession  took, 

And  turned  the  soul  out  of  its  house  of  clay : 
So  visaged  is  poor  Charlestown  at  this  day — 
Shepard,  her  very  soul,  is  torn  away. 


Cambridge  groans  under  this  so  heavy  cross, 

And  sympathizes  with  her  sister  dear — 
Renews  her  griefs  afresh  for  her  old  loss 

Of  her  own  Shepard,  and  drops  many  a  tear. 

Cambridge  and  Charlestown  now  joint  mouners  are, 
And  this  tremendous  loss  between  them  share. 


Must  learning's  friend  (ah  I  worth  us  all)  go  thus  .' 

That  great  support  to  Harvard's  Nursery! 
Our  Fellow  (that  no  fellow  had  with  us) 
Is  gone  to  Heaven's  great  University. 

Our's  now  indeed  's  a  lifeless  corporation — 
The  soul  is  fled  that  gave  it  animation ! 


Farewell,  dear  Shepard!    thou  art  gone  before. 

Made  free  of  Heaven,  where  thou  shalt  sing  loud  hymns 
Of  high  triumphant  praises  evermore, 

In  the  sweet  choir  of  Saints  and  Seraphims. 

Lord!  look  on  us  here,  clogged  with  sin  and  clay  ; 
And  we,  through  grace,  shall  be  as  happy  as  they. 


My  dearest,  inmost  bosom-friend  is  gone  ! 

Gone  is  my  sweet  companion,  soul's  delight ! 
Now  in  a  huddling  crowd  I'm  all  alone — 
Almost  could  bid  all  the  world  good-night. 

Blest  be  my  Rock  I — God  lives — Oh  !  let  Him  be 
As  He  is  all,  so  All  in  all  to  me ! 

The  bereaved,  sorrowful  Urian  Oakks." 


Note  34,  page  79. 
LETTER  OF   HON.   J.  Q.  ADAMS. 

I  AM  permitted  to  make  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  written 
by  the  Hon.  J.  Q.  Adams  to  the  Rev.  G.  W.  Blagden,  of  the  Old 
South  Church  : 


219 

*'  In  1G82,  Daniel  Quincy  was  married  to  Anna  Shepard,  daughter 
of  the  second  Thomas  Shepard,  and  first  of  that  name,  minister  of 
Charlestown.  Of  this  marriage  the  issue  were  two  children,  Anne, 
born  the  1st  and  baptized  the  7tli  of  June,  1G85,  and  John,  born  the 
21st  and  baptized  the  2Sth  of  July,  1689,  both  at  the  South  Church. 
This  John  Quincy,  son  of  Daniel  and  Anna  Quincy,  was  the  person 
whose  name  I  bear.  He  was  the  father  of  Elizabeth  Smith,  (wife  of 
William  Smith,  minister  of  Weymouth,)  my  mother's  mother.  He 
was  on  his  death-bed  at  the  age  of  77,  when  I  was  baptized ;  and  it 
was  at  his  daughter's  request  that  his  name  was  given  to  me.  He  had 
been  an  orphan  almost  from  his  birth.  His  father,  Daniel  Quincy, 
having  died  at  the  age  of  40,  about  one  year  after  his  birth,  in  August, 
1690.  He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1708,  and  within  a 
year  afterwards  his  grandmother,  Mrs.  Anna  Shepard,  died,  and  be- 
queathed to  him  a  farm  at  Mount  Wollaston,  where  he  ever  after 
resided  and  died." 

The  following  interesting  anecdote  has  been  kindly  copied  for  me, 
from  the  Common  Place  Book  of  Judge  Sewall,  by  his  descendant, 
llev.  Samuel  Sewall  of  Burlington. 

"  Thursday,  November  9,  1682.  Cousin  Daniel  Quincy  marries 
Mrs.  Anna  Shepard  before  John  Hull,  Esq.  Samuel  Nowell,  Esq.,  and 
many  persons  present,  almost  Capt.  Brattle's  great  hall  full.  Capt.  B. 
and  Mrs.  Brattle  there  for  two.  Mr.  Willard  began  with  prayer — Mr. 
Thomas  Shepard  concluded.  As  he  was  praying,  cousin  Savage, 
mother  Hull,  wife  and  self  came  in.  A  good  space  after,  when  had 
eaten  cake  and  drunk  wine  and  beer  plentifully,  we  were  called  into 
the  great  hall  again  to  sing.  In  singing  time,  Mrs.  Brattle  goes  out, 
being  ill;  most  of  the  company  go  away,  thinking  it  a  qualm,  or 
some  fit ;  but  she  grows  worse,  speaks  not  a  word,  and  so  dies  away  in 
her  chair,  I  holding  her  feet,  for  she  had  slipped  down.  At  length, 
out  of  the  kitchen  we  carry  the  chair,  and  her  in  it,  into  the  wedding- 
hall,  and  after  a  while  lay  the  corpse  of  the  dead  aunt  in  the  bride's 
bed;  so  that  now  the  strangeness  and  horror  of  the  thing  filled  the 
(just  now)  joyous  house  with  ejulation.  The  bridegroom  and  bride 
lie  at  Mr.  Airs,  (Eyres?)  son-in-law  to  the  deceased,  going  away  like 
persons  put  to  flight  in  battle." 


Note  35,  page  83. 
LETTER  TO  THE  OLD  SOUTH  CHURCH. 

The  original  letter  missive  from  this  church  to  the  Old  South,  invit- 
ing their  assistance  at  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Shepard,  has  been  pre- 
served among  the  Old  South  papers,  and  is  as  follows : 

"Honored,  reverend,  and  beloved  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ: 

"It  having  pleased  God  after  his  afflicting  hand  upon  us,  by  the 
death  of  our  faithful  Shepard,  and  frustration  of  other  endeavors  lor 
supply,  to  give  us  some  revival,  by  raising  up  the  son  of  our  blessed 


220 

Shepard,  whom,  judging  by  the  observation  and  experience  we  have  had 
of  him,  not  only  to  have  drunk  in  the  principles,  but  also  to  be  very 
considerably  endued  with  the  amiable  and  Christian  spirit  of  his  father, 
we  have  unanimously  called  and  prevailed  with  to  undertake,  with  the 
help  of  God,  the  office  of  a  pastor  among  us.  In  order  to  the  execu- 
tion of  the  office,  we  do,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  churches  in 
these  parts,  by  these  our  letters  entreat  you  to  afford  us  the  presence 
of  your  teaching  officer,  with  such  other  messengers  as  shall  seem 
good  to  you,  upon  May,  the  fifth  next  coming,  at  nine  in  the  morning, 
to  join  with  the  elders  and  messengers  of  other  churches  we  have  sent 
unto,  in  the  ordination  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  Shepard,  that  so  by 
the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  Presbytery,  he  may  be  lawfully  au- 
thorized to  discharge  the  work  of  a  pastor  in  this  part  of  God's  flock. 
"  So  craving  your  prayers  to  the  great  Shepherd,  for  such  an  influ- 
ence upon  the  labors  of  our  Shepard  as  may  cause  an  increase  of  his 
flock,  and  the  spiritual  growth  of  each  member  therein,  we  commend 
you  also  to  the  same  God,  and  the  word  of  his  grace,  and  rest 
"  Your  brethren  and  servants  in  Christ  Jesus, 

"  Signed  in  the  name,  and  by  the  order  of  the 
"  Church  of  Christ,  in  Charlestown, 

Lawr.  Hammond, 
John  Cutler, 
Joseph  Lynde, 
John  Phillips, 
Thomas  Greaves. 
*'  Charlestown,  April  4,  16S0. 

"These  for  Mr.  Samuel  Willard,  pastor  of  the  South  Church  in  Boston. 
"  To  be  communicated  to  your  church." 


"  Rev.  Thomas  Shepard  and  Mrs.  Mary  Lynde,  widow,  were  mar- 
ried before  Mr.  Samuel  Nowell,  assistant,  July  27,  1682."  » 


Note  36,  page  94. 

SHEPARD'S  MANUSCRIPTS. 

In  the  antiquarian  library  several  manuscript  sermon-books  of  Rev. 
Thomas  Shepard  the  second,  are  preserved.  One  volume  contains 
ten  discourses  on  the  cxx.  Psalm,  delivered  on  successive  Sabbaths, 
from  January  1,  1659-60  to  March  4,  1659-60.  Another  contains 
twelve,  on  Psalm  cxxvii.  3-5,  and  Psalm  cxxviii.,  delivered  at  intervals, 
from  November  22,  1663  to  May  22,  1664.  Another  contains  twelve 
sacramental  discourses  on  Canticles,  delivered  every  four  weeks,  from 
April  4,  1669  to  March  6,  1669-70.  Another  contains  eleven  lectures 
on  Matthew  vii.  13,  14,  delivered  at  intervals  of  two  and  four  weeks, 

1  Town  Records. 


221 

from  May  15,  1668  to  December  11,  1668,  Another  contains  seven 
discourses  on  Fast  and  Thanksgiving  occasions,  begun  August  28, 
1 663,  and  ended  March  26, 1665.  And  still  another  volume  of  the  same 
character,  begun  January  2,  1661-2,  and  concluding  with  a  sermon 
delivered  April  12,  1663,  on  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Jno.  Norton,  who  died 
the  Lord's  day  before  April  5 ;  Mr.  Shepard  also  wrote  an  elegy  on 
him,  which  is  preserved  in  the  New  England  Memorial.  In  the  book, 
mentioned  the  last  but  one,  at  the  end  of  the  sermon  on  Psalm  xliv.  4, 
delivered  on  the  Fast  day,  November  16,  1664,  is  appended  the  follow- 
ing note  :  "  The  night  after  this  fast  was  the  blazing  star  first  observed 
by  some  among  us,  which  continued  visible  until  February  4,  next 
following,  first  barbatus  and  at  last  caudatus  conieta." 

It  seems  to  have  been  Mr.  Shepard's  practice  to  conclude  all  his 
sermons  with  the  Latin  aspiration,  "  Tibi  mi  domine  Jesu,"  sometimes 
varying  the  expression  with  different  adjectives,  as  "  charissime,"  "  be- 
atissime,"  "  benedictissime." 


Note  37,  page  101. 

HORSEY'S  LETTER. 

In  Prince's  collection  of  papers  in  the  Historical  Society  Library,  is 
a  letter  from  Henry  Horsey  to  his  brother,  dated  Newington  Green, 
April  12,  1686,  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract : 

"  We  are  now  a  parting  with  one  of  our  best  neighbors  and  friends, 
good  Mr.  Charles  Morton,  an  eminent  minister  of  the  gospel,  who, 
with  his  family,  intends  this  month  to  embarque  with  Foy,  in  his  ship 
for  New  England,  which,  as  it  is  our  loss,  so  we  doubt  not  but  will  be 
that  country's  great  gain ;  for  he  is  a  person  of  great  learning,  and 
piety,  and  moderation,  and  of  an  excellent  sweet  natural  temper,  of  a 
loving  and  generous  spirit,  who  will  be  well  worth  your  acquaintance 
and  friendship  in  anything  you  can  serve  him  in,  especially  in  that  he 
goes  over  in  prospect  of;  viz.,  to  be  president  of  your  college  at  Cam- 
bridge, who  is  a  most  accomplished  person  for  that  work,  and  will 
quickly  in  his  government  and  education  therein,  give  a  reputation  to 
it,  it  having  been  his  employment  many  years  in  this  place,  with  great 
success  and  blessings  to  all  sorts  that  have  been  under  his  government. 
But  considering  the  acquaintance  and  knowledge  Mr.  Stougliton  and 
Mr.  Dudley  have  of  him,  and  my  Father  also,  the  bearer  of  this,  I 
might  have  spared  the  giving  you  the  trouble  of  these  much  concern- 
ing him ;  yet  the  love  I  bear  to  him,  could  not  but  extort  these  from 
me.  He  carries  with  him  besides  his  wife,  a  very  fine  man,  his  nephew, 
a  very  good  and  ingenious  person,  who  is  a  doctor  of  physic,  and  is  of 
his  uncle's  name,  Charles  — h\s  brother  being  already  in  the  college, 
who  came  with  Jenner,  last  winter.  Perhaps  Fuij  may  depart  hence 
before  Clark ;  and  then  you  may  both  hear  his  character  before  this 
comes  to  your  hand." 


The  following  votes  of  the  church,  respecting  the  call  and  installa- 
tion of  Mr.  Morton,  are  recorded  on  small  pieces  of  paper,  marked 
No.  25  and  26,  in  the  sixth  volume  of  the  Mather  manuscripts,  belong- 
ing to  the  Old  South  Church,  and  deposited  in  the  Massachusetts  His- 
torical Society's  Library. 

"  October  24,  1686.  At  a  meeting  of  the  church,  the  church  did 
unanimously  vote  that  application  should  be  made  to  the  elders  of  the 
three  churches  of  Boston,  to  desire  their  help  and  assistance  in  the 
management  of  that  work  of  setting  apart  or  instituting  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Morton  to  be  the  pastor  of  this  church,  and  to  Mr.  Mather,  senior,  to 
take  upon  him  the  work  and  place  of  a  moderator  for  the  day,  and  in 
particular,  to  give  the  said  Rev.  Mr.  Morton  his  charge." 

On  another  piece  of  paper,  and  in  a  very  different  handwriting, 

"  24  October,  '86.  The  congregation  here  in  Charlestown  was 
stayed.  It  was  then  put  to  vote,  if  it  be  the  mind  of  this  congregation 
to  desire  the  Rev.  Mr.  Morton  to  take  upon  him  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry in  this  place,  and  so  to  be  your  minister,  your  silence  may  mani- 
fest your  consent  herein.  This  vote  passed  without  one  objection.  At 
the  same  time  the  members  of  the  church  were  stayed — those  in  full 
communion  ;  and  it  was  put  to  vote,  that  if  it  be  the  mind  of  the 
brethren  of  this  church  to  desire  the  Rev.  Mr.  Morton  to  take  upon 
him  the  office  of  a  pastor  in  this  church,  manifest  it  by  the  usual  sign 
of  lifting  up  your  hands.     This  vote  passed  unanimously." 

In  still  another  handwriting, 

"  Also  the  Rev.  Mr.  Morton  did  manifest  his  readiness  and  willing- 
ness to  comply  with  the  church's  desire  and  call  of  him." 


Note  38,  page  109. 
MORTON'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

Several  of  Mr.  Morton's  works  are  preserved  in  the  Antiquarian 
Library  at  Worcester,  and  some  are  also  to  be  found  in  the  library  of 
the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society.  For  the  following  list  of  his 
publications,  I  am  indebted  to  Rev.  Mr.  Sewall,  who  derived  it  from 
Eliot  and  Allen. 

They  were,  1.  The  Little  Peacemaker,  on  Proverbs  xiii.  10. — 
2.  Foolish  Pride,  the  makebate,  1674. — 3.  Debts  Discharged,  Romans 
xiii.  8. — 4.  The  Gaming  Humor  considered  and  reproved. — 5.  The 
way  of  good  men  for  wise  men  to  walk  in.  —  6.  Season  Birds:  an  in- 
quiry into  the  sense  of  Jeremiah  viii.  7. — 7.  Meditations  on  the  first 
fourteen  chapters  of  Exodus,  &/C. — 8.  The  Spirit  of  Man:  meditations 
on  1  Thessalonians  v.  23.-9.  Of  Common  Places;  or,  Memorial 
Books. — 10.  A  Discourse  on  Improving  the  County  of  Cornwall. — 
11.  Considerations  on  the  New  River.  — 12.  Letter  to  a  Friend,  to 
prove  money  not  so  necessary  as  imagined. — 13.  The  Ark,  its  loss  and 
recovery. 


223 

I  have  met  with  several  copies  of  his  "  Compendium  Physicse,"  a 
philosophical  treatise,  which  his  students  copied. 

He  composed  also  a  system  of  logic,  which  the  students  of  the  col- 
lege were  required  to  copy. 


Note  39,  page  112. 

MODE  OF  CALLING  AND  SETTLING  MINISTERS. 

The  following  paper,  having  reference  to  the  delay  of  Mr.  Brad- 
street's  ordination,  was  kindly  copied  and  sent  to  me  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Jenks. 

"  To  the  honored  James  Russell,  Esq.,  to  be  communicated  to  the  breth- 
eren  of  the  Church  of  Charhtowne. 

"  Honored  and  Beloved  Bretheren : 

"  Grace  and  peace  be  multiplyed  unto  you.  We,  observing  that  the 
ordination  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Simon  Bradstreet  intended  to  be  carryed 
on  at  Charlstowne,  to  have  been  laid  aside  by  an  unexpected  obstruc- 
tion put  thereunto,  occasioned  either  upon  the  misunderstanding  of 
some  matters  between  the  persons  concerned  therein,  or  the  suggestion 
of  some  non-cogent  reasons,  or  some  misapplyed  Texts  and  instances 
of  Scripture,  (which  might  easily  admitt  of  an  answer  as  we  appre- 
hend,) to  the  great  dissatisfaction  of  severall  persons,  upon  all  which, 
and  severall  other  considerations  that  might  be  added,  have  thought 
good  to  advise  and  persuade  you,  the  Bretheren  of  the  church  of  Christ 
at  Charlstowne,  upon  a  review  of  the  things  that  occasioned  the 
obstruction  that  you  proceed  to  the  ordination  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Simon 
Bradstreet,  upon  such  Terms  as  he  lately  declared  and  yielded  unto; 
and  that  you  be  ready  willingly  to  embrace  him,  not  only  as  a  member 
of  your  Ecclesiasticall  Society,  but  as  an  officer  whom  you  have  already 
chosen  to  the  Pastorall  office  among  you,  he  being  orderly  dismissed  or 
Recomended  from  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Andover  into  which,  as 
we  understand,  he  was  some  years  since  formally  admitted;  and  that 
you  quietly  and  freely  submit  to  his  administration  of  his  office  amongst 
you,  according  to  the  Rules  of  Gospell ;  desiring  also,  that  all  former 
errours  and  mistakes  on  all  sides  be  forgiven,  laid  aside  and  forgotten, 
and  that  there  may  be  an  endeavor  on  all  hands,  to  walk  together  in 
love,  purity  and  peace,  that  thereby  you  may  obtain  the  God  of  Love 
and  peace  to  be  with  you  as  he  hath  promised,  which  is  the  True 
desire  of 

"  Yours  in  the  Gospell  of  Christ."  ' 

(No  signatures  are  given,  and  no  date.) 

I  am  not  entirely  satisfied  with  the  explanation  given  pp.  Ill,  112, 
and  am  disposed  to  think  that  there  was  some  ground  for  the  censure 

'  From  the  "  Wyllys  papers,"  belonging  to  Ashur  Adams,  Esq. 


224 

cast  upon  our  church  by  the  Boston  churches.  The  following  extracts 
from  the  town  records,  will  exhibit  the  method  pursued  in  the  calling 
and  settling  of  ministers. 

"  March  12,  1G96-7.  James  Russell,  Esq.,  moderator.  Mr.  Simon 
Bradstreet  was  chosen  an  assistant  to  Rev.  Charles  Morton  in  the  min- 
istry.    £80  salary  voted. 

"  June  20,  1697.  Mr.  Bradstreet  answered  that  he  could  not  come 
for  a  month  or  six  weeks,  and  then  would,  and  in  the  meantime  preach 
or  provide  help. 

"  May  13,  1693.  Worshipful  James  Russell  communicated  to  the 
town  the  fact  of  the  choice  by  the  church  of  Mr.  Simon  Bradstreet  for 
pastor,  and  asked  the  concurrence  of  the  town.  Voted  in  the  affirma- 
tive by  the  general  lifting  up  of  the  hands.     ,£100  salary  voted. 

"  July  12,  1693.  Rev.  Mr.  Simon  Bradstreet  met  with  the  select- 
men and  declared  his  acceptance  of  '  the  call  of  the  church  and  town, 
and  did  promise  to  carry  on  the  whole  work  of  the  ministry  among  us. 
And  then  by  the  selectmen  ordered  that  Deacon  Kettle  pay  him  out  of 
the  contribution  money  the  proportionable  sum  every  week,  after  the 
rate  of  £100  per  annum,  according  to  vote  of  inhabitants,  May  13, 
1698.' 

"  May  21,  1712.  Voted  by  the  town,  'that  they  would  have  another 
settled  minister  in  the  town.'  '  The  selectmen  were  appointed  and 
desired  to  inform  Mr.  Bradstreet  of  the  vote,  and  ask  his  concurrence, 
and  make  return  the  next  general  meeting,  the  last  Monday  in  June 
next.' 

"June  16,  1712.  Mr.  Bradstreet  answered,  provided  the  person  was 
agreeable  to  the  town,  and  also  one  that  was  agreeable  to  him,  he  did 
believe  it  would  be  an  advantage  both  to  the  town  and  to  himself 

"  June  30,  1712.  Voted  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  discourse 
with  Mr.  Bradstreet,  and  acquaint  him  that  the  town  has  impowered 
them  to  desire  him  to  acquaint  the  church  of  their  intention  to  chose 
another  settled  minister,  and  prays  their  assistance  and  direction 
therein. 

"  July  21,  1712.  At  a  legal  and  general  meeting  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Charlestown,  Colonel  Joseph  Lynde  was  chosen  moderator.  Then 
the  answer  of  the  church  to  the  town,  concerning  the  getting  Emother 
settled  minister,  was  publicly  read,  which  was  as  followeth : 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  church  of  Christ  in  Charlestown,  July  18, 
1712.  The  church  having  been  acquainted  with  and  considered  of 
the  town's  desire  of  their  direction  and  assistance  in  the  choice  of  a 
person  to  be  settled  amongst  them  in  the  work  of  the  ministry.  It  was 
declared  and  voted,  that  as  the  church  doth  approve  of  and  concur 
with  the  desire  of  the  town,  to  have  another  settled  minister,  so  they 
would  desire  the  town  to  join  with  them  in  an  humble  and  hearty 
seeking  unto  God  through  Jesus  Christ,  by  fasting  and  prayer  for  his 
gracious  presence,  conduct  and  blessing  to  guide  and  prosper  them  in 
such  a  weighty  and  important  undertaking.  The  time  intended  and 
voted  for  the  aforesaid  fasting  and  prayer,  is  to  be  (God  willing)  the 
second  Wednesday  in  August  next. 

"  Attest,  Simon  Bradstreet,  Pastor. 

"  A  true  copy  of  the  church's  return. 

"  Attest,  Nathaniel  Dows,  Town  Clerk." 


225 

"  The  town  voted  their  concurrence  with  the  church's  answer. 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  selectmen,  September  15,  1712. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  church  of  Christ,  in  Charlestown,  September 
2,  1712.  The  church  being  convened  to  nominate  three  suitable  per- 
sons to  present  to  the  town  with  whom  they  are  willing  (and  have  con- 
cluded) to  join  in  choosing  one  out  of  the  said  number  to  be  settled 
amongst  us  in  the  work  of  the  Evangelical  ministry.  They  did  nomi- 
nate and  appoint  then  three  following;  viz.,  the  Rev.  -Mr.  Joseph 
Stevens,  Rev.  Mr.  John  Webb,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Tufts.  Mr. 
Stevens  had  23  votes,  Mr.  Webb  had  20,  and  Mr.  Tufts  22. 

"  Attest,  Simon  Bradstreet,  Pastor." 

"■  Memorandum.  The  pastor  of  the  church  did  not  see  cause  to  act 
in,  but  did  suspend  his  concurrence  with  respect  to  the  nomination  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Webb.     A  true  copy. 

"  Attest,  Nathaniel  Doavs,  Town  Clerk." 

"  A  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  met  in  the  meeting-house,  September 
22,  1712,  10  o'clock  A.  M.,  and  made  choice  of  Rev.  Joseph  Stevens, 
who  had  104  votes,  Mr.  Webb  47,  Mr.  Tufts  8." 


Note  40,  page  113. 

MORTON'S   LATIN  EPITAPH. 

The  following  epitaph  was  written  by  Rev.  Simon  Bradstreet,  Mr. 
Morton's  successor.' 

Sacrae  et  sempilernse  Memorise 
Reyd'-  plurinium  et  clarissimi  viri 

Dom.  Caroli  Mortoni, 

Ecclesise  Charlestoniensis  Pastoris  instructissimi : 

Nee  lion   Collegii   Harvardini  Vice  Praesid.  primi, 

aeque  ac  insigiiiter  in  oinni   Lilerarum  genera  versatil. 

viri  deniq  ; 

turn  in  Anglia  (ubi  natus  fuit  et  maxim^  floruit) 

turn  in  Mov-Anglia  (ubi  senilis  obiit) 

permultis  noininibus  celebrandi. 

Qui  vita  hac  serumnosa  probe  defunctus, 

April,  die  XI.  Anno  U.  MUCXCVIII. 

selatis  suae  LXXI[. 

Ex  parte  sui  Immortali  ac  nobilissima  in  Caelis  triumphal: 

Ex  altera  ver6,  corruptibiii  scilicet,  in  hoc  Monumento  paulisper  quiescit; 

Expectans  dum  vocem  audierit  Filii  Dei, 

qua  revocatus  a  morte  in  viiam  ver^  vitalem, 

quam  gloriosus  in  eternum  regnabit ! 

EPITAPHIUM. 

Inclyta  Morlcmiis  musarum  gloria  quondam 
Et  sacer  Eterni  Regis  Legatus  Jesu 
Post  varies  casus,  post  funera  mulla  suorum 
Sic  cadit  in  cineres  resoluius  ab  hoste  supremo, 
Ut  Domini  virlute  sui  victrice  resurgens 
Gaudeai  aeternis,  absorpta  morte,  triumphis.* 

>  1  Hist.  Coll.  viii.  75.  2  1  Mass.  H.  S.  Coll.  viu.  76. 

29 


226 

Note  41,  page  IIG, 
CHARLESTOWN  LECTURE. 

From  Judge  Sewall's  manuscript  journal,  we  learn  that  in  Mr.  Mor- 
ton's day,  and  probably  before,  there  was  a  stated  lecture  held  at 
Charlestown.  This  lecture,  like  the  Boston  fifth-day  or  Thursday 
lecture,  was  originally  designed  for  the  exposition  of  Scripture  ;  it  was 
held  once  a  month,  on  Friday.  It  was  continued  by  ]\Ir.  Bradstreet, 
and  was  preached  alternately  by  himself  and  Mr.  Stevens,  his  colleague. 
In  Mr.  Abbot's  time,  it  seems  to  have  been  converted  into  a  lecture 
preparatory  to  the  Lord's  supper,  such  as  is  now  common. 

There  is  a  manuscript  volume  in  the  possession  of  the  Antiquarian 
Society  at  Worcester,  containing  a  series  of  lectures  on  Matthew  vii. 
13,  14,  delivered  in  Charlestown,  by  the  second  Thomas  Shepard, 
1C68,  and  written  out  fairly  with  his  own  hand.  The  dates  of  the 
lectures,  respectively,  are  May  15,  June  12,  July  10,  August  7,  Sep- 
tember 4,  October  2,  October  16,  October  30,  November  13,  Novem- 
ber 27,  December  11. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  lectures,  down  to  October  2,  were  given 
every  four  weeks  ;  and  all  these  were  upon  Matthew  vii.  13.  The 
remainder  were  given  every  two  weeks ;  and  these  were  upon  Matthew 
vii.  14. 

It  would  seem  probable,  therefore,  that  the  lecture  was  held  once  a 
fortnight,  and  that  Mr.  Symmes  and  Shepard  alternated. 

The  following  notices  of  the  Charlestown  Lecture  in  Judge  Sewall's 
journal,  will  be  read  with  interest. 

"  16S7,  May  27.  Went  to  Charlestown  Lecture,  and  heard  Mr, 
Morton  from  these  words :  '  Love  is  a  fruit  of  the  Spirit.'  Mr.  Dan- 
forth  sat  in  the  Deacon's  seat."  "  1G87,  August  19.  Mr.  Morton's 
text,  out  of  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit,  falls  in  course  to  be  Peace,  indeed 
very  seasonably,  as  to  the  exercise  that  town  is  under  respecting  their 
common,  part  of  which  was  laid  out  and  bounded  to  particular  per- 
sons." "1088,  May  11.  Go  to  Charlestown  Lecture."  "1688, 
Friday,  June  8.  Sir  William  at  Charlestown  Lecture."  "  1688,  Sep- 
tember 28.  I  go  to  Charlestown  Lecture.  Mr.  Lee  preaches  from 
Matthew  xxv.  6.  After  lecture,  dined  at  Mr.  Russell's."  "  1691, 
Friday,  October  9.  Mr.  Baily  preaches  the  lecture  at  Charlestown, 
After  lecture,  Mr.  Morton  dines  in  his  new  house,  one  room  being 
closed.  Were  at  table,  Mr.  Morton  and  Mrs.,  my  Lady  Phips,  Mr, 
Moody  and  Mrs.,  Mr.  Allen,  Mr.  Baily,  little  John  Baily."  "  1715-16, 
January  13.  I  go  to  Charlestown  Lecture.  Mr.  Bradstreet  preached 
excellently  from  Lam.  iii.  25.  Madam  Bradstreet  was  at  meeting." 
"  1716,  September  21.  Go  to  Charlestown  Lecture,  which  is  the  first 
in  their  new  meeting-house.  Mr.  Stevens  preaches  from  Psalm  Ixxxiv, 
4:  'Blessed  are  they  that  dwell  in  thy  house.'  Made  a  very  good  dis- 
course, worthy  to  be  printed.  Two  first  staves  Ixv.  Ps.  sung  L.  Dined 
with  Col.  Phillips."  "  1717,  August  23.  Went  to  Charlestown 
Lecture.  Mr.  Stevens  gave  us  a  very  good  discourse  from  Revelation 
xiv.  13,"  &.C.  "  1717,  September  20.  Went  to  Charlestown  Lecture, 
where  Mr.  Bradstreet  preached  from  Psalm  cxiiii,  10 :  '  Teach  me  to 


227 

do  thy  will.'  Dined  with  Mr.  Graves."  "  1718,  October  17.  Go  to 
Charlestown  Lecture.  Mr.  Bradstreet  preached  from  Hebrews  xiii.  14. 
Mentioned  the  sudden  deaths  several  times.  Have  been  lour  of  late  ; 
viz.,  Plummer,  Mico,  Sheaf  the  ferryman,"  &c.  "  172l)-2l ,  February 
3,  Friday.  Mr.  Bradstreet  preaches  the  lecture  from  Job  xiv.  14  :  '  I 
will  wait.'  The  Governor  and  Col.  Dudley  (William)  dine  with  the 
Court,  but  were  not  at  lecture."  Anciently  the  Superior  Court  was 
held  at  Charlestown  and  Cambridge  alternately,  and  the  above  is  an 
instance  in  which  the  judges  seemed  to  have  adjourned  court  to  attend 
lecture,  as  they  were  accustomed  to  do  when  lecture  fell  in  court 
time.' 


Note  42,  page  124. 
STEVENS'S   PRIVATE   RECORDS. 

This  volume,  which  belonged  originally  to  Mr.  Stevens  and  after- 
wards to  Mr.  Abbot,  contains  the  following  records  in  the  handwriting 
of  Mr.  Stevens. 

"  The  new  meeting-house  at  Charlestown  was  raised  the  20th  day  of 
June,  A.  D.  1716.     We  met  in  it  August  5,  1716. 

"  Joseph  Stevens,  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Stevens,  was  born  at 
Andover,  June  20,  16S2. 

"  Sarah  Linde,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Linde,  was  born  at 
Charlestown,  February  23,  1693-4. 

"  September  16,  1705.  I  preached  my  first  sermon  at  Marblehead, 
on  Matthew  xvi.  26,  I  being  then  twenty-three  years,  two  months  and 
twenty-seven  days  old. 

"  I  was  chosen  a  fellow  of  Harvard  College  December  24,  1711. 

"I  was  ordained  at  Charlestown,  October  13,  1713,  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Increase  Mather ;  had  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  by  his  son,  Dr. 
C.  Mather.     I  preached  from  Daniel  xii.  3. 

"  Joseph  Stevens  and  Sarah  Linde  were  married  July  15,^  1714,  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Bradstreet. 

"  Sarah  Stevens  was  born  May  5,  1715,  and  baptized  by  myself 
the  hth. 

"  Sarah  Stevens  died  August  20,  1716. 

"  Sarah  Stevens  the  second,  was  born  February  18,  1716-17,  and 
baptized  by  Rev.  Mr.  Bradstreet,  the  24th. 

"  Joseph  Stevens  was  born  June  30,  1719,  and  baptized  by  myself, 
July  5th. 

"  Benjamin  Stevens  was  born  May  4,  1721,  and  baptized  by  Mr. 
Bradstreet,  7th." 


1  For  a  full  and  interesting  account  of  the  origin  and  nature  of  these  ancient  lectures,  see 
Rev.  Mr.  Sewali's  Notes,  American  Quarterly  Register,  volume  xiii.  p. 51. 
*  The  Town  Records  say  July  l-i. 


228 

This  book  also  contains  a  record  of  marriages  solemnized  by  him 
from  September  28,  1714,  to  August  11,  1721 ;  and  also  a  list  of  the 
children  he  had  baptized  from  1713  to  1721. 


Note  43,  page  125. 

SETTLEMENT  OF   MR.  PRENTICE. 

The  following  account  of  the  proceedings  of  the  church  in  reference 
to  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Prentice,  was  written  by  Mr.  Abbot,  in  the 
manuscript  volume  just  alluded  to. 

MEMORANDUM. 

"  At  a  Church  Meeting  at  Charlestown,  21  May,  1739. 

"  After  the  meeting  was  opened  with  solemn  and  earnest  prayer  to 
God,  for  his  Presence  and  Direction,  the  church  came  into  the  follow- 
ing votes : 

"  First.  They  voted  a  Concurrence  with  the  Town,  in  the  vote  they 
had  passed  at  a  general  Town  meeting,  on  the  14th  of  May,  wherein 
they  declared  Their  Inclination  and  Desire  to  have  another  Settled 
Pastor,  to  take  part  of  the  Ministry  with  me.  [N.  B. — There  were 
about  31  that  voted  for  it,  and  about  20  that  appeared  against  it,  be- 
sides some  that  were  Neuters,  especially  the  Two  Deacons,  who  did 
not  act  in  the  affair.] 

"  Secondly.  They  voted  (agreeable  to  the  Custom  of  the  Churches 
in  This  Land,  and  of  This  Church  in  particular,  in  such  affairs)  to  set 
apart  a  Day  for  Solemn  prayer  with  Fasting,  to  implore  the  presence 
of  the  Glorious  Head  of  the  Church  with  Them,  and  that  they  might 
be  both  directed  and  prospered  in  so  weighty  and  Important  an  under- 
taking, as  That  of  the  Settlement  of  a  Pastor  is  to  God's  glory  and  our 
Edification.  And  accordingly,  They  agreed  to  set  apart  Wednesday, 
the  Si:rth  of  June,  for  the  observation  of  the  Fast. 

"  Thirdly.  They  voted  to  Desire  the  Town  to  join  with  Them  in 
the  Solemnities  of  the  Fast,  which  They  Judged  the  First  step  proper 
to  be  taken  in  an  affair  of  This  Nature  and  Importance,  that  relates  to 
the  Kingdom  and  Interest  of  Christ  in  the  World. 

*'  Fourthly.  The  Church  having  desired  that  the  Elders  &.c.  that 
come  to  assist  us  on  the  Fast,  might  meet  at  My  House,  did  vote  that 
The  Deacons  should  supply  us  with  what  was  Needful  for  their  Enter- 
tainment on  That  Occasion. 

"  Then  I  dismissed  the  Church  with  the  Apostolical  Benediction." 

"  June  6.  We  observed  the  Private  Fast  as  was  proposed  by  the 
Church,  21  May.  Dr.  Sewall  opened  the  Solemnity  in  the  morning  by 
prayer;  Mr.  Cooper  preached,  xvi.  John,  23,  4.  Mr.  Welsteed  closed 
the  Forenoon  exercise  with  prayer. 

"  Mr.  Grey  began  with  prayer  in  the  Afternoon.  I  preached  Ixviii. 
Psalm,  18:  '  Tlwu  hast  received  gifts  fur  men;'  and  Mr.  Byles  prayed 


229 

after  Sermon,     And  after  we  had  sang  the  Hymn  in  which  was  the 
text,  Dr.  Sewall  dismissed  the  Congregation  with  the  Blessing." 

"  At  a  Church  meeting  at  Charlestown,  13  June,  1739. 

"  After  Solemn  prayers  and  Supplications  to  the  Glorious  Head  of 
the  Church  for  his  Presence  and  Direction,  &-c..  The  Church  came 
into  the  following  votes  : 

"  First.  They  voted  That  They  would,  (God  willing,)  with  All 
Convenient  Speed,  proceed  to  the  Invitation  and  Settlement  of  another 
Pastor  over  Them,  and  take  the  usual  and  Regular  steps  for  that  End 
and  purpose. 

"  Secondly.  They  voted  to  have  but  one  Person  in  Nomination  as 
a  Candidate  in  order  to  a  settlement. 

"  Thirdly.     Mr.  Thomas  Prentice  was  the  person  only  Nominated. 

"  Fourthly.  They  voted  to  desire  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  Prentice 
to  preach  with  Them  for  Two  Sabbaths  next  Ensuing,  as  a  Candidate, 
in  order  to  a  Settlement  in  the  Gospel  Ministry  among  Them. 

"  Fifthly.  Voted  that  Major  Jenner,  Joseph  Lemmon,  Esq.,  and 
Mr.  Seth  Sweetser,  be  a  Committee  to  acquaint  the  Rev.  Mr.  Prentice 
with  the  Church's  Vote,  and  to  Invite  Him  to  preach  with  us  in  order 
to  a  Settlement. 

"  Sixthly.  Voted  also  that  the  Honorable  Committee  desire  of  Mr. 
Prentice  some  account  of  the  Grounds  and  Manner  of  his  Remove 
from  His  People,  and  make  Report  to  the  Church  upon  the  Adjourn- 
ment of  This  Meeting  for  Their  Satisfaction  in  that  matter. 

"  Seventhly.  Voted  that  the  Committee  aforesaid,  be  desired  to 
acquaint  the  Selectmen  with  the  Church's  vote  relating  to  the  Settle- 
ment of  another  Minister,  and  desire  them  forthwith  to  Issue  out  a  war- 
rant to  assemble  the  Town  together,  to  Join  with  the  Church  in  the 
choice  of  another  Pastor  to  take  part  of  the  Ministry  with  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Abbot. 

"  Eighthly.  Voted  that  the  Deacons  render  an  account  to  the  Church 
at  the  Adjournment  of  This  Meeting,  of  what  stock  there  is  in  the 
Church  Treasury  under  Their  care. 

"  Ninthly.  Voted  that  the  Church  meeting  be  adjourned  to  the  Day 
of  the  Town  Meeting  aforesaid,  and  that  the  Church  assemble  together 
at  the  ringing  of  the  First  Bell  for  the  Meeting. 

"  Then  I  dismissed  the  Church  with  the  Apostolical  Benediction." 

"  At  a  Church  Meeting  at  Charlestown,  (met  by  adjournment,)  2 
July,  1739. 

"  After  the  meeting  was  opened  with  prayer,  the  Church  came  into 
the  several  following  votes  : 

"  First.  They  voted  an  Acceptance  of  the  Report  of  the  Com- 
mittee, relating  to  the  Grounds  and  Manner  of  Mr.  Prentice  His  re- 
moval from  his  people  at  Arundel,  (whom  They  chose  to  make  Inquiry 
into  It,)  and  declared  that  They  were  satisfied  as  to  the  manner  of  it, 
&,c.     N.  B. — The  Report  in  writing  is  Lodged  with  me ! 

"  Secondly.  They  accepted  The  Report  made  by  the  Deacons, 
concerning  the  Church  Stock,  which  They  declared  amounted  to  the 
sum  of  136.  11.3.,  and  that  This  included  in  It  not  only  the  Surplusage 
of  the  Collections  made   by  the  Church ;  but   also,  and   chiefly,  what 


230 

They  had  received  for  the  Rents  of  the  Church's  pastures,  and  the 
Letting  of  the  Funeral  Pall,  &c. 

"  Thirdly.  They  voted  That  some  of  the  Church's  Monies  should 
be  devoted  to  pious  and  Charitable  uses. 

"  Fourthly.  They  particularly  voted  that  the  sum  of  ^10  should  be 
distributed  by  Myself  and  the  Deacons,  to  proper  objects  of  Christian 
Charity,  especially  to  such  as  belonged  to  the  Church. 

"  Fifthly.  They  voted  that  the  Deacons  should  have  the  Improve- 
ment of  the  Church's  Pasture,  by  Mr.  Hutchinson's,  for  Their  Trouble 
in  the  management  of  the  Secular  affairs  of  the  Church,  till  further 
order  from  the  Church.  N.  B. — The  Deacons  were  Samuel  Froth- 
ingham  and  Jonathan  Kettell. 

"  Then  I  dismissed  the  meeting  with  a  Benediction.  From  thence 
we  went  to  Join  with  the  Town  in  the  choice  of  another  Pastor,  when 
Mr.  Prentice  was  chosen." 

"  At  a  Church  Meeting  at  Charlesto^vn,  28th  August,  1739. 

"  After  Solemn  Prayers  were  made  to  the  Glorious  Head  of  the 
Church,  the  Church  came  into  the  following  votes  : 

"  First.  They  voted  (God  willing)  that  they  would  proceed  to  the 
Installation  of  Mr.  Prentice,  who  had  accepted  Their  call  to  office, 
with  all  Convenient  Speed. 

"  Secondly.  They  voted  the  first  Wednesday  in  October  Next, 
(which  is  the  3d  of  the  month,)  to  be  the  Day  for  That  Solemnity. 

"  Thirdly.  They  voted  to  Desire  five  Churches  with  their  Pastors 
and  Delegates,  to  assist  in  Council  upon  that  Occasion. 

"  Fourthly.  The  Churches  Nominated  and  Determined,  were  Those 
of  whom  Dr.  Colman,  &c.,  Dr.  Sewall,  &c.,  Mr.  Welsteed,  &-c.,  at 
Boston,  were  Pastors;  and  the  Church  of  Cambridge,  and  the  Church 
at  Medford.  N.  B. — [Upon  a  motion  made  in  Mr.  Prentice's  behalf, 
that  He  might  be  excused  from  preaching  on  the  Day  of  his  Install- 
ment ;  the  Church  were  not  disposed  in  General  to  give  up  the  Custom 
that  They  had  been  in,  of  the  Pastor's  preaching  Himself  at  such  a 
Time;  and  therefore  desired  that  he  would  then  preach.] 

"  Fifthly.  Voted  That  there  should  be  a  Public  Collection  to  defray 
the  charges  of  the  Day  aforesaid. 

"  Sixthly.  Voted  to  have  the  Entertainment  at  the  House  in  which 
Mr.  Prentice  is  to  Live,  it  being  large  and  Convenient  for  that  Pur- 
pose ;  and  that  The  Ordination  Council  be  invited  to  Meet  There  on 
the  Morning  of  the  Installment. 

"  Seventhly.  Voted  that  the  Committee  for  providing  Mr.  Prentice's 
house,  viz.,  Mr.  Russell,  Jenner,  Cary  and  Foye,  be  a  Committee  to 
provide  for  the  Entertainment ;  and  that  there  be  Joined  to  them,  Capt. 
Cheever,  Foster,  Mr.  Trumbal,  and  the  Two  Deacons,  for  that  pur- 
pose. Upon  a  motion  I  made,  the  Church  desired  I  would  frame  and 
send  forth  in  due  Time,  Circular  Letters  to  the  Churches  afore-men- 
tioned, in  their  name  and  behalf  to  Invite  them  to  Join  in  such  an  act 
of  Communion  as  that  of  an  ordination  or  Installment  of  a  Pastor  is. 

"  Then  I  dismissed  the  meeting  with  a  Benediction." 

"  At  a  Church  Meeting  at  Charlestown,  24  September,  1739,  at  9 
o'clock,  A.  M. 


231 

*'  After  prayers  were  offered  up  to  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church, 

"  1.  The  Church  voted  their  acceptance  of  the  Form  of  the  Letter 
that  I  drew  up  to  send  to  the  Churches  They  had  before  voted  to  Invite 
to  Join  in  Council  for  the  purpose  of  Mr.  Prentice's  Instahuent,  and 
desired  that  I  would  subscribe  and  send  the  Letters  to  them  in  their 
name. 

"  2.  They  voted  to  Desire  the  Rev.  Dr.  Coleman  to  give  the  Sacred 
Charge  to  Mr.  Prentice,  at  his  Listalment ;  and  in  Case  He  should 
refuse,  or  were  detained  by  Illness,  that  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sewall  be  desired 
to  take  that  part  upon  Him. 

"  3.  They  voted  Mr.  Prentice  his  admission  into  our  Church  fellow- 
ship and  Communion. 

"4.  They  voted  that  what  be  wanting  more  than  was  gathered  by 
the  Town  for  that  purpose,  be  taken  out  of  the  Church  Stock  for  to 
Defray  the  Charges  of  the  Public  Entertainment,  on  the  Day  of  Mr. 
Prentice's  Instalment. 

"  Then  I  dismissed  the  meetinjr  with  a  Benediction," 


Note  44,  page  128. 

THE  EARTHQUAKE. 

The  following  notice  of  this  earthquake  is  taken  from  the  manu- 
script diary  of  Mr.  Thomas  Abbot,  of  Boston — the  brother  of  Rev. 
Hull  Abbot — which  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  Benjamin  Edmands. 

"  October  29,  1727.  This  night,  betwixt  10  and  11  o'clock,  there 
was  in  this  place  and  many  miles  distant,  a  terrible  Earthquake,  in 
which  the  earth  and  the  inhabitants  thereof  trembled  much ;  but 
through  the  goodness  of  God,  who,  in  judgment  did  remember  mercy, 
we  dont  hear  of  any  hurt  done,  or  that  so  much  as  one  person  lost  his 
life.  There  were  several  shocks  at  some  hours'  distant  from  one  an- 
other, but  the  first  exceeded  the  rest.  On  the  day  following,  many 
people  being  assembled  at  the  Old  North  Church,  there  were  about 
three  hours,  from  11  to  2  o'clock,  spent  in  prayers  and  in  preaching; 
and  at  5  o'clock,  the  people  assembled  at  the  Old  Brick  and  Old  South 
Churches,  and  spent  between  three  and  four  hours  more  in  holy  exer- 
cises as  in  the  morning,  crying  mightily  to  the  God  of  all  grace,  that  he 
would  sanctify  his  awful  providence  to  this  whole  people,  and  that  he 
would  pardon  these  great  and  crying  sins  that  were  the  procuring 
cause  of  his  judgments ;  and  that  he  would  not  enter  judgment  with 
us,  but  spare  us  according  to  the  greatness  of  his  mercy  in  Christ. 
The  Lord  hear  all  the  prayers  that  have  been  and  are  going  up,  and 
give  a  gracious  answer  of  peace,  and  prepare  this,  his  people  in  this 
town,  for  the  day  of  solemn  fasting  and  prayer,  on  Thursday  approach- 
ing, that  it  may  be  such  a  fast  as  he  has  chosen. 

"  The  earth  was  felt  to  shake  for  seven  or  eight  months  after  in  some 
places,  and  the  roarings  thereof  ever  now  and  then  heard.  But 
through  God's  goodness  we  are  spared  still." 


232 

Note  45,  page  137. 

ABBOT'S  FAMILY. 

From  the  manuscript  volume  to  which  I  have  alluded,  I  extract  the 
following  memoranda,  in  the  handwriting  of  Mr.  Abbot. 

"  Moses  Abbot  and  Rebecca  Knight  were  married  11  September, 
1701.     He  was  lost  at  sea  February,  1717-18. 

"  Hull  Abbot  was  born  on  Monday,  15  June,  1702."  He  was  the 
eldest  of  eight  children,  four  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  births  of 
the  other  three  are  given  as  follows:  Elizabeth,  born  10  March,  1706; 
Moses,  August  3,  1711  ;  Richard,  May  29,  1715. 

"  Elizabeth  died  July  13,  1738,  at  Princeton,  and  was  buried  at 
Charlestown,  in  the  tomb  with  her  husband,  15th  instant.  Moses  died 
May  1st,  1734;  Richard  died  July  6,  1754,  N.  S. 

"  Memorandum.  October  3,  1741.  My  dear  mother  died  about  8 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  after  about  a  twelvemonth's  visitation  with  a 
cancer  in  her  breast ;  very  much  distressed  with  pains  about  six  months 
of  the  time ;  and  I  doubt  not,  died  in  the  Lord,  and  slept  in  Jesus. 
Lord,  let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous  ! 

"  Mary  Bradstreet,  daughter  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Simon  and  Mary  Brad- 
street,  was  born  at  Charlestown,  September  9,  1703,  being  Thursday. 

"  Hull  Abbot  and  Mary  Bradstreet  were  married  July  27,  1731, 
(being  Tuesday,)  by  her  father.  Rev.  Simon  Bradstreet.  She  died 
May  10,  about  midnight,  1763,  after  long  confinement  and  great  weak- 
ness." They  had  seven  children,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
record  of  the  rest  is  as  follows  : 

"3.  Mary  Abbot  was  born  Thursday,  November  7,  1734,  being  a  day 
of  Public  Thanksgiving.  I  baptized  her  in  my  arms,  on  the  10th  day 
of  second  month. 

"  4.  Moses,  born  Friday,  April  14,  1738.  I  baptized  him  in  my 
arms,  on  the  following  Sabbath,  April  16th. 

"5.  Rebecca,  born  Thursday,  April  19,  1739.  I  baptized  her  in 
my  arms,  on  the  Sabbath  following,  April  22.  She  died  November 
27,  1756. 

"  7.  Thomas,  born  Thursday,  May  2,  1745.  He  was  baptized  by 
Mr.  Prentice,  May  5,  1745." 

The  following  records  are  written  in  another  hand. 

"  Thomas,  son  of  Hull  and  Mary  Abbot,  born  May  2,  1745. 

"  Hannah  Hesilrige,  daughter  of  Sir  Robert  and  Sarah  Hesilrige, 
was  born  August  20,  1757. 

"  Thomas  Abbot  and  Hannah  Hesilrige  were  married  July  18,  1776. 
Mr.  Gordon  made  the  first  prayer,  and  performed  the  marriage.  Mr. 
Jackson,  of  Brookline,  concluded  with  prayer. 

"  David  Henley  was  born  February  12,  1749. 

"  Sarah  Hesilrige  was  born  March  26,  1759. 

"  David  Henley  and  Sarah  Hesilrige  were  married  by  Mr.  Parker, 
Episcopalian,  Boston,  March  21,  1782. 

"  Arthur  Hesilrige  Henley  was  born  November  13,  1782,  and  christ- 
ned  by  Mr.  Parker.     Sponsors,  D.  Hubbard,  A.  Babcock  and  wife. 


233 

"  David  Henley  was  born  March  23,  1784.     He  was  christened  pri- 
vately, by  Mr.  Parker,  being  dangerously  sick. 
"  Sarah  Henley  died  June  10,  1786. 
"  Hannah  Abbot  died  May  3,  1789. 
"  Rev.  Thomas  Abbot  died  November  1,  1789,  aged  forty-five." 


Note  46,  page  137. 

ABBOT'S   PUBLICATIONS. 

Besides  the  discourse  quoted  in  the  lecture,  I  found  another  in  the 
Antiquarian  Library,  at  Worcester,  with  the  following  title : 

"  The  duty  of  God's  People  to  pray  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem,  and 
especially  for  the  preservation  and  continuance  of  their  own  Privileges, 
both  Civil  and  Religious,  when  in  danger  at  Home  or  from  Abroad. 
A  Sermon  on  occasion  of  the  Rebellion  in  Scotland,  raised  in  favor 
of  a  Popish  Pretender,  with  design  to  overthrow  our  present  Happy 
Establishment,  and  to  introduce  Popery  and  Arbitrary  Power  into  our 
Nations,  from  which,  by  a  series  of  Wonders,  in  the  Good  Providence 
of  God,  they  have  been  often  delivered.  Preached  at  Charlestown,  in 
New  England,  January  12,  1745-6,  by  Hull  Abbot,  A.  M.,  A  Paslor 
of  the  church  there:  Isaiah  Ixii.  1  ;  Psalm  Ixxii.  15;  James  v.  16.  The 
Queen  Mother  of  Scotland  was  heard  to  say.  That  she  more  feared  the 
fasting  and  prayers  of  John  Knox  and  his  disciples,  than  an  army  of 
thirty  thousand  men.  Spec.  Vel.  Sacri.  Boston  :  printed  and  sold  by 
Rogers  and  Fowle,  in  Q,ueen-street,  1746." 

He  also  published  a  sermon  against  profane  cursing  and  swearing, 
1747,  which  I  have  not  seen. 


Note  47,  page  142. 
REV.  THOMAS  PRENTICE. 

An  excellent  portrait  of  this  gentleman,  in  an  admirable  state  of 
preservation,  is  in  possession  of  Mrs.  Amasa  Stetson,  of  Dorchester, 
who  is  a  grand-daughter  of  Mr.  Prentice.  It  was  painted  in  1755,  by 
Mr.  Badger,  of  Boston. 

To  John  Kettell,  Esq.,  of  Dorchester,  a  grand-son  of  Mr.  Prentice, 
I  am  indebted  for  the  following  particulars. 

He  was  born  in  Cambridge,  1702,  of  pious  and  respectable  parents, 
and  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1726.  In  1728,  he  was  ordained 
and  settled  in  Arundel,  District  of  Maine,  whither  he  had  gone  for  the 
benefit  of  his  health.  Soon  after  his  settlement,  he  married  Irene 
Emery,  daughter  of  Rev.  Mr.  Emery,  of  Wells,  by  whom  he  had  seven 
daughters  and  one  son ;  four  of  the  daughters  and  the  son  died  early. 
30 


234 

In  1737,  the  Indian  War  commenced,  and  the  church  was  dispersed  ;  in 
consequence  of  which,  Mr.  Prentice  returned  to  his  native  place  with 
his  wife  and  three  children,  where  he  soon  received  three  invitations 
for  settlement,  from  the  New  North  Church,  Boston,  from  West  Cam- 
bridge, and  from  Charlestown ;  the  latter  of  which  he  accepted,  and 
the  same  day  declined  the  other  two.  His  wife  died  1745,  leaving 
three  daughters,  Irene,  Mary,  and  Margaret.  In  October,  1746,  he 
married  Rebecca  Austin,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Rebecca  Austin, 
of  Charlestown,  by  whom  he  had  one  daughter,  Rebecca,  who  mar- 
ried Joseph  Kettell,  of  Boston.  His  second  wife  died  October,  1748, 
aged  thirty-three  years.  In  1750,  he  married  widow  Mary  Butman,  of 
Old  York,  by  whom  he  had  no  children,  and  who  survived  him,  and 
returned  to  York  after  his  death.  After  the  burning  of  the  town,  he 
repaired  to  Cambridge,  and  lived  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  the  house 
in  which  he  was  born,  which  was  then  owned  by  him. 

His  daughter  Mary,  married  Dr.  Frost,  of  Cambridge,  1762,  with 
whom  she  lived  two  years ;  and  after  his  death,  she  married  Nehemiah 
Rand,  Esq.,  of  Charlestown,  1766,  and  fled  with  her  husband,  during 
the  war,  to  Lyndeborough,  New  Hampshire,  where  they  lived  until 
their  death. 

Mr.  Prentice  published  several  discourses,  four  of  which  I  have 
seen,  and  possibly  there  are  others. 

The  first  was  a  sermon  preached  July  18,  1745,  on  a  General 
Thanksgiving,  for  the  reduction  of  Cape  Breton. 

The  second,  a  sermon  preached  January  28,  1747-8,  on  a  Public 
Fast,  after  the  destruction  of  the  Province  Court  House  by  fire. 

The  third,  a  sermon  preached  at  the  Thursday  Lecture,  in  Boston, 
January  1,  1756,  on  occasion  of  the  Earthquake,  November  18,  pre- 
ceding. 

The  fourth  was  a  sermon  on  the  death  of  Mrs.  Anna  Cary,  wife  of 
Mr.  Richard  Cary,  and  eldest  daughter  of  Richard  Bradley,  Esq., 
Attorney  General  of  New  York,  preached  the  Sabbath  after  her 
death,  March  2,  1755.  This  lady  was  remarkable  for  her  piety  and 
general  excellence.  I  have  now  lying  before  me  a  copy  of  "  some  of 
Mrs.  Gary's  sayings  a  few  days  before  her  death."  They  appear  to 
have  attracted  considerable  attention,  and  been  treasured  up  through 
veneration  for  the  author's  piety.  This  copy  has  been  preserved  by  an 
aofed  member  of  the  church. 


Note  48,  page  142. 
MEETING-HOUSE  HILL. 

The  meeting-house,  which  was  destroyed  when  the  town  was  burnt, 
was  situated  on  the  northwest  side  of  the  square.  When  the  town  was 
rebuilt,  it  was  felt  to  be  desirable  that  the  square  should  be  kept  open 
and  unobstructed  by  buildings  of  any  sort ;  and  accordingly  a  new  site 
was  appropriated  for  the  meeting-house  in  lieu  of  the  old  one. 

The  following  vote  was  passed  by  the  town,  October  27,  1782  : 


235 

"  Whereas,  by  the  destruction  of  a  great  part  of  this  town  in  the  year 
1775,  the  inhabitants  of  the  first  parish  were  very  great  sufferers,  and 
the  house  for  public  worship  in  said  parish,  as  well  as  the  dwellings 
of  said  inhabitants,  were  destroyed  by  fire,  and  as  the  affections  of 
kindness  and  brotherly  love  are  among  the  brightest  ornaments  of 
human  nature,  and  as  it  is  in  the  power  of  the  town,  without  any  in- 
jury to  the  general  interests  thereof,  to  furnish  said  parish  with  a  place 
on  which  to  erect  a  building  for  the  public  worship  of  God — There- 
fore, this  town,  acting  on  the  principles  and  reasons  above-mentioned, 
do  hereby  vote  to  grant,  and  do  grant,  convey,  and  relinquish  to  the 
first  parish  in  this  town,  that  piece  of  land  commonly  called  Town- 
House  Hill,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  erecting  thereon  a  house  for  the 
public  worship  of  God,  provided  said  parish  building  be  erected 
thereon  within  the  space  of  five  years,  otherwise  this  grant  to  be  void." 
Within  a  year  from  the  passage  of  this  vote,  the  meeting-house  was 
erected;  and  the  right  thus  acquired  by  the  parish  to  the  hill,  was 
conceded  and  carefully  respected  by  the  town.  In  the  year  1800, 
when  the  town  were  about  building  the  present  Harvard  school-house, 
"  for  the  accommodation  of  the  schools,  town  meetings,  and  other 
public  business,"  the  parish  committee  were  requested  to  call  a  parish 
meeting,  "  to  know  of  the  parish  whether  they  will  give  the  town  a 
spot  to  erect  a  school-house  upon,  in  front  of  the  old  one."  The  meet- 
ing was  held  accordingly,  and  it  was  voted,  "  That  the  parish  will 
relinquish  to  the  town  all  the  right  they  may  hold  in  the  land  front  of 
the  school-house,  sufficient  for  the  erection  of  a  school-house  and 
town  hall,  reserving  not  less  than  sixty-five  feet  on  a  parallel  line 
north  of  the  meeting-house."  The  well  between  the  school-house 
and  meeting-house  (in  which  the  pump  now  stands)  was  dug  a  few 
years  subsequent  to  the  erection  of  the  school-house,  when  the  parish 
consented  to  have  it  done,  as  it  was  for  the  public  good. 


Note  49,  page  143. 
ENLARGEMENT  OF  THE  MEETING-HOUSE. 

In  the  year  1803,  the  population  of  the  town  having  increased  so 
much  as  to  require  a  larger  house  of  worship,  the  parish  decided  to 
enlarge  the  meeting-house.  They  at  first  determined  to  make  a  circu- 
lar alteration  on  the  north  and  south  sides,  so  as  to  make  an  addition 
of  about  twenty  feet  on  each  side.  This  design  was  subsequently 
relinquished,  and  a  plan  adopted  for  enlarging  the  house  by  adding 
fifteen  feet  to  each  side.  The  dimensions  of  the  house,  as  thus  en- 
larged, were  84  feet  wide  by  74  long. 

The  tower  and  steeple  were  also  at  this  time  repaired  and  painted  ; 
the  tower  was  seventy-two  feet  high,  and  the  height  of  the  steeple,  to 
the  top  of  the  ball,  was  one  hundred  and  sixty-two  feet  from  the  ground. 
Aaron  Putnam,  Esq.,  Zabdiel  B.  Adams,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Amariah 
Childs,  were  the  committee  appointed  to  superintend  the  work. 

"  The  names  of  the  present  proprietors  (and  where  they  are  not 
known,  the  present  occupiers)  of  the  pews,  with  the  number  annexed 


236 


to  their  respective  names,  of  the  pews  assigned  them,  after  the  altera- 
tions and  enlargements  of  the  meeting-house  are  completed  agreeably 
to  the  plan  —  the  other  pews  the  property  of  the  subscribers  who  are  to 
complete  the  alterations.     May  3,  1804. 


PEWS  BELOW. 

Samuel  Bradstreet, 

No.  1 

Cotton  Center, 

No.  64 

Thomas  Harris, 

2 

Samuel  Swan,  Jr., 

65 

Samuel  Swan,  Jr., 

3 

Matthew  Bridge, 

66 

John  Lark  in, 

4 

Larkin  &  Goodwin, 

67 

Phillips,  Payson,  &  Samuel  Soley,    5 

Isaac  Mallett's  est., 

68 

Artemas  Ward, 

6 

John  Austin, 

69 

John  Harris, 

7 

Perkins  Nichols, 

70 

Nathan  Tufts, 

8 

John  Pratt, 

71 

Est.  of  David  Devens, 

9 

Josiah  Barker, 

72 

Poor's  pew. 

17 

Richard  Frothingham, 

73 

Bartlett  &  Payson, 

26 

Benjamin  Frothingham, 

74 

Francis  Hyde, 

27 

Ammi  R.  Tufts, 

75 

Daniel  Tufts, 

28 

Timothy  Thompson, 

76 

Thomas  Osgood, 

29 

Eliphalet  Newell, 

83 

John  Edmands, 

30 

William  Wiley, 

78 

Widow  Barker, 

31 

Peter  Edes, 

79 

Edmands  &,  Fosdick, 

32 

Poor's  pew, 

84 

Poor's  pew, 

33 

Rayner  and  Frothingham, 

85 

Jonathan  Kettell, 

38 

Est.  of  Samuel  Conant, 

86 

Widow  Larkin, 

39 

Nathaniel  Austin, 

67 

Josiah  Bartlett, 

45 

Mercy  Farnsworth, 

88 

Ebenezer  Breed, 

41 

Thomas  W.  Pratt, 

89 

Frothinwham  &  Goodwin,                42 

William  Goodwin, 

90 

David  Wood, 

43 

James  Frothingham,  Jr., 

91 

Minister's  pew. 

44 

Poor's  pew, 

100 

Thomas  Brooks, 

48 

Holmes  &l  Pratt, 

108 

Thomas  Hooper, 

49 

Timothy  Walker, 

109 

Aaron  Putnam, 

36 

Samuel  Cary,  &c., 

110 

Carleton  &  Stetson, 

51 

George  Bartlett,  &.C., 

111 

Benjamin  Hurd, 

52 

Widow  Henley, 

112 

Richard  Devens, 

53 

Joseph  Hurd, 

113 

Benjamin  Mirick, 

54 

Est.  of  John  Stanton, 

114 

Amos  Tufts, 

55 

Est.  of  James  Russell, 

115 

Andrew  Kettell, 

62 

Giles  Alexander, 

116 

Richard  Boylston, 

63 

PEWS  IN  TH 

E    GALLERY. 

Joseph  Parker, 

No.  117 

Aaron  Putnam, 

No.  136 

Jabez  Stevens, 

118 

Joseph  Sweetser, 

137 

Jonathan  Lock, 

119 

James  Call, 

138 

Joseph  Brown, 

120 

John  Larkin, 

139 

Nehemiah  Wyman, 

121 

John  Harris, 

140 

William  Newhall, 

122 

Matthew  Bridge, 

141 

John  Edmunds, 

123 

Thomas  C.  Hay  ward, 

142 

John  Runey, 

124 

William  Leathers, 

143 

William  Wiley, 

125 

David  Edmands, 

144 

Benjamin  Hurd, 

126 

Manning  &l  Mansir, 

145 

Benjamin  Hurd, 

131 

Nicholas  Brown, 

158 

Parish, 

132 

Isaac  Pratt, 

159 

Joseph  Hurd, 

133 

Joshua  Hooper, 

160 

Mrs.  Wallace, 

134 

Josiah  Harris, 

161 

Samuel  Jaques, 

135 

Parish  pew, 

162 

237 

In  1794,  a  subscription  of  $744  was  raised  for  the  purchase  of  an 
organ,  which  was  accepted  by  the  parish,  and  used  in  public  worship 
until  the  present  meeting-house  was  built. 

In  1809,  a  "chapel"  was  erected  in  the  garden  of  the  parsonage, 
"  twenty-six  feet  by  twenty-one,  and  ten  and  a  half  feet  in  the  clear  ;" 
and  the  expense  defrayed  by  a  subscription  on  the  part  of  the  members 
of  the  church,  amounting  to  $411. 

The  bell,  which  was  presented  by  Champion,  Dickason  and  Burgis, 
being  claimed  by  the  selectmen  as  the  property  of  the  town,  was 
removed  from  the  belfry  of  the  meeting-house  September  25,  1845, 
and  surrendered  to  the  selectmen,  who  caused  it  to  be  placed  in  the 
cupola  of  the  town  house.  The  cause  of  the  removal  of  the  bell  by 
the  committee  of  the  parish,  and  the  surrender  of  it  to  the  town,  was 
the  claim  instituted  by  the  selectmen,  to  the  right  of  entering  the 
meeting-house  for  the  purpose  of  ringing  the  bell,  and  repairing  the 
clock  and  bell — a  claim  which  was  disallowed  by  the  parish. 


Note  50,  page  143. 
FORMATION  OF  THE  PARISH. 

The  records  of  the  parish  begin  with  the  date  of  May  20,  1784, 
when  the  inhabitants  of  the  parish,  qualified  to  vote  in  town  affairs, 
were  warned  to  meet  in  the  meeting-house  for  the  transaction  of  busi- 
ness, by  warrant  from  Thaddeus  Mason,  of  Cambridge,  justice  of  the 
peace.  The  reason  of  the  warrant's  being  given  by  Mr.  Mason  was, 
that  the  parish  committee  had  neglected  it  so  long,  that  it  was  out  of 
their  power  to  do  it  legally. 

In  the  year  1803,  a  meeting  of  the  "  freeholders,  and  other  inhabi- 
tants in  the  first  parish  qualified  to  vote  in  parish  affairs,"  was  held  in 
the  town  hall,  "  to  take  into  consideration  the  petition  of  John  Lar- 
kin  and  others,  inhabitants  of  the  first  parish  in  Charlestown,  and 
members  of  the  first  religious  society  in  said  town,  praying  that  the 
holders  of  pews  in  the  meeting-house  in  which  they  worship,  may  be 
made  a  body  corporate,  with  power  to  make  assessments  on  the  pews 
in  said  house,  for  the  repairing  of  the  same,  and  the  support  of  the 
teacher  of  said  society."  A  committee  was  appointed  to  oppose  said 
petition,  by  a  vote  of  157  to  88.  Nothwithstanding  this  opposition, 
the  act  of  incorporation  was  passed  March  5,  1803.  Upon  the  organ- 
ization of  the  parish  by  the  act  of  incorporation,  a  list,  consisting  of 
238  names,  was  prepared,  comprising  all  the  persons  who,  agreeably 
to  the  provisions  of  that  act,  were  members  of  the  first  parish  in  the 
town  of  Charlestown.  An  act  in  addition  to  the  act  of  1803,  was 
passed  in  1812,  and  still  another  in  1822. 


238 

Note  51,  page  148. 

THE   TABLET. 

A  TABLET,  bearing  the  following  inscription,  is  placed  in  the  ves- 
tibule of  the  church. 

IN     MEMORY    OF 

THE  PASTORS  AND  TEACHERS  OF  THIS  CHURCH. 

THOMAS   JAMES, 

Born ;  grad.  Cam.  Univ.  Eng.,  Eman.  Coll.  A.  B.  1614,  A.  M. 

1618;   ins.  Nov.  2,  1632;  dis.  March  U,  1636. 

ZECHARIAH   SYMMES, 

Born,  Canterbury,  Eng.;  grad.  Cam.  Univ.   Eng.,  Eman.  Coll.  A.  B.  1620; 

ins.  Dec.  22,  1634;  died  Feb.  4,  1671,  aet.  72. 

JOHN   HARVARD, 

Born ;  grad.  Cam.  Univ.  Eng.,  Eman.  Coll.  A.  B.  1631,  A.  M.  1635 

adm.  to  chh.  Nov.  6,  1637  ;  died  Sept.  14,  1638. 

THOMAS   ALLEN, 

Born,  Norwich,  Eng. ;  grad.  Cam.  Univ.  Eng  ,  Caius  Coll.  A.  B.  1627,  A.  M.  1631, 

ins.  1639,  dis.  1651,  died  Sept.  1673,  aet.  65. 

THOMAS   SHEPARD, 

Born,  London,  Eng. ;  grad.  Harv.  Coll.  1653  ;  ord.  April  13,  1659 ;  died 

Dec.  22,  1677,  a;t.  43. 

THOMAS   SHEPARD,  Jr. 

Born,  Charlestown;  grad.  Harv.  Coll.  1676;  ord.  May  5,  1680;  died 

June  7,  1685,  aet.  27. 

CHARLES   MORTON, 

Born,  Pendavy,  Eng. ;  grad.  Ox.  Univ.  Eng.  ;  ins.  Nov.  5,  1686 ;  died 

April  11,  1698,  aet.  72. 

SIMON   BRADSTREET, 

Born,  New  London,  Ct. ;  grad.  Harv.  Coll.  1693  ;  ord.  Oct.  26,  1698; 

died  Dec.  31,  1741,  aet.  72. 

JOSEPH   STEVENS, 

Born,  Andover;  grad.  Harv.  Coll.  1703;  ord.  Oct.  13,  1713; 

died  Nov.  16,  1721,  aet.  39. 

HULL   ABBOT, 
Born,  Boston,  Grad.  Harv.  Coll.  1720,  ord.  Feb.  5, 1724,  died  April  18, 1774,  aet.  72. 

THOMAS   PRENTICE, 

Born,  Cambridge;    grad.  Harv.  Coll.  1726;  ins.  Oct.  3,  1739;  died 

June  17,  17S2,  set.  SO. 

JOSHUA   PAINE, 

Born,  Sturbridge;  grad.  Harv.  Coll.  1784  ;  ord.  January  10,  1787; 

died  Feb.  27,  1788,  aet.  25. 

All  of  whom,  except  Thomas  James  and  Thomas  Allen,  who  returned  to  England, 

died  in  the  ministry  of  this  church,  and  were  interred  in 

the  ancient  burying  ground  of  this  town. 

Whose  faith  follow, — considering  the  end  of  their  conversation  :  Jesus  Christ,  the 
same  yesterday  and  to-day  and  forever.     Heb.  xiii.  7.  8. 


239 

Note  52,  page  150. 
INSTALLATION   OF   REV.  DR.  MORSE. 

Dr.  Morse  had  been  ordained  in  1786,  in  New  Haven,  Ct.  as  an 
Evangelist,  to  take  the  place  of  Rev.  Dr.  Holmes,  afterwards  of  Cam- 
bridge, who  had  received  a  similar  ordination  the  year  before  in  the 
same  place,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  pastoral  care  of  a  Congrega- 
tional church  in  Midway,  Ga. 

The  churches  invited  to  the  council  of  installation  were  nine,  viz  : 
the  church  in  Brookline,  Rev.  Joseph  Jackson  ;  in  Sturbridge,  Rev. 
Joshua  Paine ;  Cambridge,  Rev.  Timothy  Hilliard ;  Boston,  Rev. 
Jeremy  Belknap,  Rev.  Peter  Thatcher,  Rev.  John  Eliot,  Rev.  Joseph 
Eckley ;  Medford,  Rev.  David  Osgood ;  and  Woodstock,  Ct.  Rev. 
Eliphalet  Lyman.  Dr.  Belknap's  sermon  was  published  at  the  request 
of  the  parish,  together  with  the  charge  by  Mr.  Jackson,  and  the  right 
hand  of  fellowship  by  Mr,  Osgood. 

The  churches  invited  to  attend  the  council  convened  for  the  ordina- 
tion of  Mr.  Paine,  were  the  churches  in  Sturbridge,  Rev.  Joshua 
Paine  ;  in  Brookfield,  Rev.  Mr.  Fisk  ;  Brookline,  Rev.  Mr.  Jackson  ; 
Cambridge,  Rev.  Mr.  Hilliard  ;  Medford,  Rev.  Mr.  Osgood ;  Boston, 
Rev.  Mr.  Thacher,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Eliot.  The  president,  professors, 
and  tutors  of  Harvard  College,  and  ministers  of  all  denominations,  of 
the  town  of  Boston,  were  nivited  to  dine  with  the  ordaining  council. 


Note  53,  page  151. 
HARVARD  AND   WINTHROP   CHURCHES. 

The  second  or  "Harvard  Church"  was  formed  March  26,  1817. 
Their  first  minister.  Rev.  Thomas  Prentiss  was  ordained  March  26, 
1817,  and  died  October  5,  1817,  at  the  age  of  25.  Their  second 
minister.  Rev.  James  Walker,  D.  D.,  was  settled  April  15,  1818,  and 
was  dismissed  1839,  having  been  elected  Professor  of  Moral  Philoso- 
phy in  Harvard  University.  The  Rev.  George  E.  Ellis,  their  present 
pastor,  was  ordained  March  11,  1840. 

The  third  Congregational  or  "  Winthrop  Church,"  is  orthodox  in 
faith,  and  was  gathered  January  9,  1833.  Thirty-four  persons,  four- 
teen of  whom  were  males,  were  dismissed  from  this  church,  for  the 
purpose  of  being  organized  by  a  council  into  a  new  church.  Their 
first  minister.  Rev.  Daniel  Crosby,  was  installed  August  14,  1833,  and 
died  February  28,  1843,  in  the  44th  year  of  his  age,  having  resigned 
his  pastoral  charge  about  a  year  before  his  death.  Their  present 
pastor,  Rev.  John  Humphrey,  was  ordained  November  30,  1842. 

The  other  churches  in  this  town,  are  three  Baptist,  a  Universalist, 
Methodist,  Roman  Catholic,  Free-will  Baptist,  and  Episcopalian. 


240 

Note  54,  page  158. 
DR.  MORSE. 

Dr.  Morse  was  born  in  Woodstock,  Ct.,  and  graduated  at  Yale 
College,  in  1783.  In  the  summer  after  his  dismission  from  this  church, 
he  received  a  commission  from  the  President  to  travel  among  the 
Indian  tribes  of  tlie  Western  Country  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining 
their  actual  condition.  His  report  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  having 
been  submitted  to  Congress,  was  published  at  New  Haven,  in  1822, 
under  his  own  inspection.  He  died  in  New  Haven,  June  9,  1826. 
As  an  author  he  was  greatly  distinguished  by  his  geographical  works, 
and  his  other  publications  were  numerous.  I  have  been  informed  by 
S.  F.  B.  Morse,  Esq.,  that  his  brother  Richard  is  now  engaged  in 
preparing  a  biography  of  his  father. 


Note  55,  page  158. 
PRESENT   MEETING-HOUSE. 

The  cost  of  this  edifice  was  $17,435  77,  not  including  the  mate- 
rials of  the  old  house,  much  of  which  was  sound  and  valuable.  The 
building  is  78  feet  long  and  68  feet  wide. 


Note  56,  page  159. 
SACRAMENTAL  FURNITURE. 

In  the  year  1800,  the  sacramental  furniture  of  the  church  consisted 
of  4  flagons,  14  tankards,  1  cup,  1  bason,  and  1  spoon,  all  of  silver, 
and  also  8  pewter  dishes  and  2  table  cloths.  Of  these,  3  flagons, 
7  tankards,  and  4  pewter  dishes,  not  having  been  used  for  many 
years,  were  sold,  and  the  proceeds  loaned  to  the  town  of  Charlestown, 
to  be  again  invested  in  plate  for  the  use  of  the  communion  table,  at 
the  pleasure  of  the  church. 

As  a  part  of  the  plate  sold  was  given  to  the  church  by  Richard 
Sprague,  Esq.  and  Mrs.  Stevens,  the  name  of  Mrs.  Stevens  was  in- 
scribed on  one  of  the  tankards  belonging  to  the  church  ;  and  on  the 
bottom  of  the  tankard  then  in  use,  and  given  by  Richard  Sprague, 
Esq.,  the  following  inscription  was  engraved  :  "  This  tankard,  with 
three  large  flagons,  were  given  to  the  church  in  Charlestown  by 
Richard  Sprague,  Esq.  a  liberal  benefactor  to  the  church  and  poor  of 
said  town,  A.  D.  1703.  The  flagons  not  being  needed  for  sacramen- 
tal uses,  were  sold  by  vote  of  the  church,  June  17,  1800,  and  the 
property  vested  in  a  town  note.  See  Church  Book,  No.  1,  page  58, 
and  Church  Book,  No.  2,  page  31." 


241 

Reference  is  made  in  Church  Records  ii.  32,  to  a  volume  in  folio,  in 
which  was  written  "  a  full  account  of  the  proceedings  of  the  church 
and  the  reasons  on  which  they  were  founded."  This  volume  appears 
to  have  been  lost. 

On  the  handle  of  one  of  the  small  tankards  sold,  were  the  letters 
S.  T.  A.,  the  initials  of  a  giver  unknown;  and  these  letters  were 
transferred  to  a  tankard  belonging  to  the  church,  and  then  in  use. 

The  pieces  of  sacramental  furniture,  now  in  the  possession  and  use 
of  the  church,  are  as  follows  : 

2  tankards.     "  The  gift  of  Capt.  Richard  Sprague." 

2  do.  "  R.  -f  R.  to  C.  C." 

1  do.  "  C.  -f  1763."  "  The  gift  of  Mrs.  Abigail  Stevens  to  the 
church  in  Charlestown." 

1  do.  "  The  gift  of  Capt.  John  Miller  to  the  church  of  Christ  in 
Charlestown,  1793." 

1  do.  "  C.  +  C.  1763." 

1  cup.  "  Ex  dono  Mrs.  Elisa.  Smith  to  the  church  of  Christ,  April 
12,  1717." 

1  spoon.     "  C.  C." 

]  bason.  "  Hocce  lavacrum  Ecclesige  Charlstoniensi  Nov.  Anglia 
in  baptism i  usum  dedicat  Henricus  Phillips,  I  mo.  Maii.  1726." 

1  table  cloth. 

The  following  "  statement  of  property  belonging  to  the  church  of 
Christ  in  Charlestown,"  was  made  January  1,  1788,  by  James  Russell, 
Samuel  Henley,  and  Joseph  Hurd — a  committee  raised  for  the  pur- 
pose— and  is  the  earliest  I  find  on  record. 

"  One  lot  of  land  at  Walnut-tree  Hill,  14  acres,  rented  to  Jona. 
Teel,  for  which  he  gave  a  note  £4  4. 

"  One  ditto  in  Range-way,  12  acres,'  rented  to  Mr.  Peter  Tufts 
for  ^'2  8. 

"  One  ditto  in  Three  Pole  lane,  about  6  acres,  the  rent  of  which  for 
this  year  was  given  to  Dea.  Frothingham,  by  a  vote,  for  his  trouble." 

Bonds,  notes  and  accounts,  viz  : 

"  James  Adams  and  William  Lawrence  note  of  hand,  dated  No- 
vember 19,  1787,^:38. 

"  John  Edmand's  bond,  with  a  mortgage,  settled  to  June  19,  1787, 
^51  3. 

"  Aaron  and  Jona.  Teel's  bond,  ^20. 

"  Jona.  Teel's  note  of  hand,  April  12,  1789,  ^6. 

"  Estate  of  Dea.  John  Frothingham,  the  balance  of  his  accounts, 
^35  4  7. 

"  Estate  of  Samuel  Hutchinson,  the  balance  settled  to  June  9, 
1787.  <£15  1  7. 

"  Estate  of  William  Hunnewell,  the  balance,  £8  18  2." 

'  This  land  was  sold  by  vote  of  the  church,  18.'^3,  "for  the  benefit  of  the  Boston  and 
Lowell  Corporation."    The  new  church  in  ISomerville  now  stands  upon  this  lot. 

31 


242 

Note  57,  page  159. 
THE   RUSSELL  FAMILY. 

The  ancestor  of  this  distinguished  family  was  the  Hon.  Richard 
Russell,  who  came  from  Herefordshire  in  England,  in  1640,  at  the 
age  of  29,  and  settled  in  this  place.  He  was  one  of  the  most  eminent 
merchants  of  his  time,  and  died  at  the  age  of  65,  in  1676,  possessed 
of  a  large  estate.  He  bequeathed  to  this  town  a  valuable  farm  lying 
in  Lynnfield,  the  income  of  which  was  to  be  distributed  among  the 
poor  of  Charlestown,  at  the  discretion  of  the  selectmen  and  deacons. 
He  gave  also  two  other  lots  of  land  to  the  town,  the  income  of  one  of 
which  he  appropriated  for  the  support  of  school  education  ;  the  other 
for  the  relief  of  the  poor  of  the  church,  to  be  distributed  by  the  dea- 
cons. He  gave  also  handsome  legacies  to  the  then  ministers  of  Bos- 
ton, Charlestown,  Cambridge,  Watertown,  Newton,  Roxbury,  and 
Dorchester. 

Hon.  James  Russell,  eldest  son  of  Richard,  was  born  in  Charles- 
town, October  4,  1640,  and  succeeded  his  father  in  his  mercantile 
profession  and  in  his  public  offices.     He  died  April  28,  1709. 

His  son,  the  Hon.  Daniel  Russell,  was  born  November  30,  1685, 
and  died  December  6,  1763.  The  following  character  of  this  excel- 
lent man  was  written  immediately  after  his  death:  "  The  Hon.  Daniel 
Russell,  for  upwards  of  twenty  years,  was  a  member  of  his  majesty's 
council  for  this  province  ;  he  also  served  the  province  as  commissioner 
of  impost,  and  the  county  of  Middlesex  as  treasurer,  for  more  than 
fifty  years  ;  in  the  discharge  of  all  which  offices,  such  was  his  con- 
scientious fidelity  and  unsullied  integrity,  as  procured  him  universal 
approbation  and  esteem  in  public  and  private  life.  His  whole  conduct 
was  such  as  evidently  showed  his  invariable  desire  and  endeavor  to 
preserve  a  conscience  void  of  offence,  both  towards  God  and  towards 
man  ;  and  by  the  rectitude  of  his  behavior,  to  adorn  and  recommend 
the  holy  religion  which  he  professed,  and  to  approve  himself  to  the 
all-searching  eye  of  the  Father  of  Spirits.  His  memory  is  greatly 
honored  by  all  who  were  acquainted  with  him,  in  whose  esteem  he 
was  truly  that  noblest  work  of  God,  an  honest  man.  It  is  observa- 
ble, that  in  all  the  several  offices  which  he  sustained,  he  succeeded  his 
worthy  father  and  grandfather,  both  of  whom  held  and  discharged  the 
same,  for  a  great  number  of  years,  with  unspotted  reputation." 

The  Hon.  James  Russell,  second  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in 
Charlestown,  August  5,  1715.  His  mother  was  the  only  daughter  of 
the  Hon.  Charles  Chambers.  His  wife  was  the  daughter  of  Hon. 
Thomas  Graves,  whom  he  married  at  the  age  of  23,  and  with  whom 
he  lived  nearly  forty  years.  He  died  April  24,  1798,  in  the  83d  year 
of  his  age.  From  the  sermon  preached  by  Dr.  Morse,  the  Sabbath 
after  Mr.  Russell's  death,  we  learn  that  he  bore  a  most  exemplary 
character,  and  this  is  amply  attested  by  many  still  living  who  remem- 
ber him.  He  was  singularly  attached  to  his  native  town,  and  in  some 
instances  he  made  the  interests  of  his  own  family  subordinate  to  those 
of  the  town.  He  was  distinguished,  like  his  ancestors,  by  his  chari- 
ties to  the  poor  ;  and  was  much  occupied  in  devising  and  executing 


243 

plans  for  their  good.  The  last  public  business  in  which  he  was  en- 
gaged, was  to  disembarrass  some  valuable  legacies  bequeathed  to  the 
poor  of  the  town,  which  had  during  the  war  become  mixed  with  other 
funds,  for  which  business  no  other  person  possessed  so  competent 
information,  and  by  which  he  restored  and  secured  to  the  poor  a 
handsome  and  regular  income.  His  great  object  was  to  do  good,  and 
he  was  continually  devising  liberal  things.  "  Of  this,"  says  Dr. 
Morse,  "  I  myself  have  been  a  frequent  witness.  After  I  had  taken 
my  last  leave  of  him,  previous  to  my  late  journey,  he  said  to  me,  *  I 
have  been  thinking  of  a  plan  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  of  this  town, 
which  I  will  communicate  to  you  when  you  return.'  "  Dr.  Morse  did 
not  return,  however,  before  his  death,  so  that  he  had  no  opportunity 
of  knowing  what  the  plan  he  contemplated  was,  but  says  that  it  origi- 
nated in  his  mind  from  reading  Count  Rumford's  essays.  He  was 
also  warmly  enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  cause  of  education,  both  in  the 
town  and  state,  in  private  schools  and  in  public  seminaries.  He  was 
a  great  advocate  for  social  libraries,  particularly  for  the  use  of  the 
clergy'  in  the  country  ;  and  often  expressed  a  wish  that  gentlemen  of 
property  and  benevolence  would  bequeath  legacies  for  such  establish- 
ments. Mr.  Russell  was  also,  says  his  pastor,  "  a  professor,  and  a 
sincere,  influential  and  uniform  friend  and  supporter  of  the  Christian 
religion.  The  religious  duties  of  the  Sabbath,  of  the  family,  and  the 
closet,  he  regularly  and  devoutly  performed.  He  not  only  believed, 
but  he  exemplified  in  his  practice  the  religion  which  he  professed. 
And  he  experienced  its  comforts  and  supports  in  every  period  of  his 
life,  and  particularly  in  his  last  sickness,  which  he  endured  with  a 
calmness  and  resignation  well-becoming  a  good  man.  Two  things  he 
particularly  desired,  that  he  '  might  not  outlive  his  usefulness,'  and 
that  he  '  might  have  an  easy  death.'  In  both,  his  desires  were  com- 
pletely fulfilled.  His  judgment,  memory,  health,  and  social  powers 
continued,  in  a  remarkable  degree,  unimpaired  till  a  few  weeks  before 
his  death.  His  sickness  was  short,  and  not  extremely  painful  ;  and 
when  the  time  of  his  departure  arrived,  without  a  groan  or  a  struggle, 
he  fell  asleep." 

Hon.  Thomas  Russell,  the  second  son  of  James,  was  born  in 
Charlestown,  April  7,  1740,  and  died  in  Boston,  April  8,  1796.  He 
was  the  fifth  generation  in  the  mercantile  profession,  and  became  the 
first,  or  one  of  the  first  merchants  in  America.  The  sermons  of  Dr. 
Thacher  and  Dr.  Morse,  on  occasion  of  his  death,  and  the  eulogy  by 
Dr.  Warren,  afford  ample  testimony  to  the  excellencies  of  his  charac- 
ter. Although  abounding  in  wealth,  and  surrounded  by  the  most  dis- 
tinguished characters  of  his  own  and  other  countries,  there  was  nothing 
haughty  or  assuming  about  him.  By  his  affability,  easiness  of  access, 
and  engaging  condescension,  he  possessed  his  immense  fortune  unen- 
vied,  and  was  universally  lamented  in  death.  At  a  time  when  infidelity 
was  fashionable,  and  neglect  of  religion  common,  he  was  not  ashamed 
publicly  to  profess  religion  ;  and  he  ever  maintained  a  firm,  but  unos- 


1  I  am  happy  to  state  that  a  good  beginning  lias  been  made  for  a  Pastor's  library,  in  the 
generous  donation  by  James  Himnevvell,  Esq..  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society's  Col- 
lection, in  twenty -five  volumes,  for  the  use  ot  the  pastor  of  the  church.  These  volumes  have 
been  of  very  essential  service  in  the  preparation  of  these  lectures. 


244 

tentatious  adherence  to  his  religious  principles.  By  birth,  education, 
and  residence  for  many  years,  as  well  as  by  ancestral  recollections,  he 
was  attached  to  this  town,  and  was  intending  shortly  to  become  an 
inhabitant,  and  spend  the  evening  of  his  days  in  it. 

The  following  interesting  facts  respecting  the  manner  in  which  Mr. 
Russell  acquired  his  property,  are  derived  from  Dr.  Warren's  eulogy. 
Having  obtained  his  mercantile  education  under  Mr.  Thomas  Green, 
an  honorable  and  distinguished  merchant  of  Boston,  he  went  to  Que- 
bec in  1759,  where  he  received  a  consignment,  by  which  he  made 
considerable  profit.  In  1762,  when  war  existed  between  France  and 
Great  Britain,  and  the  ocean  was  infested  with  French  privateers,  he 
embarked  with  a  cargo  for  the  West  Indies,  and  was  persuaded  to  take 
a  letter  of  introduction  to  a  French  gentleman  in  Martinico,  which  he 
received  with  indifference,  as  the  island  was  in  possession  of  the 
French,  and  he  was  bound  to  another  port.  He  was  captured,  how- 
ever, on  his  voyage,  and  carried  into  Martinico.  All  his  property  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  he  vvas  subjected  to  severe  confine- 
ment. Whilst  in  custody,  the  circumstance  of  the  letter  occurred  to 
his  mind,  and  he  was  permitted  to  visit  the  gentleman  to  whom  it  was 
directed.  No  sooner  had  he  perused  it,  than,  being  in  a  situation  of 
authority,  he  obtained  Mr.  Russell's  release,  and  offered  him  his  own 
house  as  an  asylum  from  injury.  Nor  did  his  friendly  offices  terminate 
here.  He  loaned  him  a  sum  of  money,  with  a  part  of  which  Mr. 
Russell  was  able  greatly  to  relieve  the  misfortunes  of  his  fellow  pris- 
oners. And  this,  together  with  another  sum  belonging  to  his  father, 
which  happened  at  that  time  to  be  placed  in  the  West  Indies,  and  a 
strong  recommendation  from  the  same  friend,  enabled  him  to  enter  into 
a  very  lucrative  trade,  and  thus  laid  the  foundation  of  his  subsequent 
success.  Rut  as  if  Providence  had  determined  to  give  him  an  early 
lesson  of  the  precarious  nature  of  property,  a  vessel  and  cargo  was 
consigned  to  him  from  New  England  and  disposed  of  for  bills  on  a 
house  in  Great  Britain.  Soon  after  his  return  to  this  country,  he 
found  the  bills  protested,  and  being  himself  the  endorser,  he  had  every 
reason  to  suppose  himself  ruined.  Mr.  Russell  immediately  embarked 
for  London,  and  obtained  an  interview  with  the  drawer,  who,  out  of 
regard  for  Mr.  Russell,  from  the  fairness  and  honesty  he  discovered  in 
his  dealings  with  him,  immediately  adopted  such  measures  as  secured 
him  against  loss.  This  occurrence,  like  most  of  his  apparent  misfor- 
tunes, turned  out  to  his  advantage,  by  leading  him  to  an  acquaintance 
with  a  house  of  great  credit  and  eminence  in  England.  The  acknowl- 
edgements which  Mr.  Russell  afterwards  had  an  opportunity  of  making 
to  that  firm,  under  the  heavy  losses  which  they  had  suffered,  exhibited 
the  singular  phenomenon  of  a  European  house,  deriving  in  its  estab- 
lishment, a  powerful  support  from  the  capital  of  an  American  mer- 
chant. The  generous  feelings  of  Mr.  Russell's  heart  were  also 
gratified,  by  a  providential  circumstance,  which  enabled  him  to  repay 
the  interposition  of  his  French  friend,  to  a  son  or  other  relative  of  his 
benefactor.  On  his  return  from  England,  Mr.  Russell  opened  a  store 
in  Boston,  but  soon  after  removed,  and  carried  on  his  business  in 
Chnrlestown.  At  the  beginning  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  he  was 
possessed  of  a  handsome  fortune,  but  lost  a  part  of  it  in  the  destruction 
of  the  town.     During  his  exile,  he  resided  in  Dunstable,  and  again 


243 

became  an  inhabitant  of  Boston,  after  the  evacuation  of  the  town  by 
the  British  troops.  Mr.  Russell,  improving  the  advantages  accruing 
from  the  independence  of  the  country,  entered  largely  into  commerce; 
he  sent  the  first  ship  ever  employed  by  any  individual  of  the  United 
States,  in  the  trade  to  Russia;  and  was  also  largely  concerned  in  the 
East  India  commerce. 

Besides  Thomas,  the  children  of  James  and  Katharine  Russell  were 
ten.  Charles,  the  eldest,  born  January  7,  1739,  was  a  respectable 
physician,  and  died  at  Antigua,  May  27,  1780.  Chambers  Russell 
was  born  December  3,  1755,  was  educated  a  merchant,  and  died  at 
Charleston,  South  Carolina,  an  amiable  and  rising  character,  March 
16,  1790.  Margaret  Russell,  born  December  7,  1751,  and  married  to 
John  Codman,  Esq.,  merchant,  of  Boston,  was  a  most  benevolent  and 
excellent  woman,  and  died  at  Boston,  March  12,  1789.  She  became 
the  mother  of  Rev.  Dr.  Codman,  of  Dorchester.^ 


Note  58,  page  160. 

DEA.  FROTHINGHAM  AND  DEA.  MILLER. 

In  connection  with  Dea.  Larkin,  it  was  my  intention  to  insert  some 
notices  of  these  truly  excellent  men.  I  have  not,  however,  been  able 
to  find  any  biographical  or  obituary  notices  of  them,  and  I  distrust  my 
power  of  conveying  the  impression  which  has  been  left  upon  my 
mind  by  what  I  have  heard  respecting  them.  Dea.  Frothingham  was 
a  man  of  grave  deportment  and  sterling  integrity.  The  weekly  church 
prayer-meeting  was  held  in  his  house  for  a  period  of  twenty  years. 
Dea.  Miller  was  distinguished  for  the  cheerfulness  of  his  disposition 
and  the  alacrity  with  which  he  engaged  in  works  of  charity.  As  a 
member  and  officer  of  the  church,  he  was  greatly  beloved.  Possessed 
of  the  social  virtues  in  an  eminent  degree,  he  was  fond  of  visiting  his 
fellow  members  in  the  church ;  and  his  visits  were  always  looked  for 
with  interest,  and  remembered  with  pleasure.  I  have  been  very  much 
impressed  by  the  manner  in  which  all  classes  of  the  community — the 
old  and  the  young — the  serious  and  the  gay  —  and  even  the  irreligious 
speak  of  him.  He  seems  to  have  won  the  esteem,  and  in  no  small 
degree,  the  affection  of  all.  He  lived  without  reproach,  and  died  with- 
out an  enemy — an  excellent  example  for  office-bearers  in  the  house  of 
God.  "  They  that  have  used  the  office  of  a  deacon  well,  purchase  to 
themselves  a  good  degree,  and  great  boldness  in  the  faith  which  is  in 
Christ  Jesus." 


A  paper,  bearing  the  title  of  "  Alford  Memoir,"  furnished  by  the  late 
Joseph  Tufts,  Esq.,  of  Charlestown,  has  been  loaned  me  by  Rev.  Dr.  Jenks ; 
and  from  it  I  am  permitted  to  make  the  following  extracts. 

The  Honorable  John  Alford,  Esq.,  commonly  called  Col.  Alford,  died  in 
Charlestown,  October  1,  17G1,  aged  seventy-six.     His  mansion  house  stood 

'  The  above  note  is  a  compilation  from  the  sermons  of  Dr.  Morse,  and  Dr.  Warren's 
eulogy. 


246 

at  the  corner  on  the  northwest  side  of  the  road  that  leads  from  the  Concord 
road  to  Maiden  bridge.  The  house  was  large  and  elegant.  It  stood  a  little 
back  from  the  road,  and  in  front  of  it  was  a  flower-garden,  enclosed  with  a 
brick  wall  with  a  wooden  fence  on  the  top  of  it.  A  person,  then  a  child, 
recollects  gathering  tulips  and  other  flowers  among  the  ruins  of  the  house. 
An  ancient  mulberry  tree  near  by,  on  the  land  of  Mr.  Archibald  Babcock,  ia 
now  the  only  remnant  of  this  once  splendid  seat. 

Col.  Alford  owned  upwards  of  seven  thousand  acres  of  land  in  the  county 
of  Gloucester,  in  New  Jersey.  From  his  having  accounts  to  settle  with 
people  of  London,  it  is  probable  he  was  a  merchant.  He  bequeathed  up- 
wards of  £600  to  Harvard  College,  and  also  £400  to  New  Jersey  College. 
Besides  the  funds  on  which  is  founded  the  professorship  in  Harvard  College, 
he  gave  $9,000  exclusively  for  the  instruction  and  'gospelizing  of  the 
Indians.'  i  A  sum  was  also  left  for  charities,  to  be  distributed  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Cooper  and  others ;  and  accordingly,  the  executor  paid  £20  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Webster,  of  Salisbury,  whose  house  was  burnt ;  to  a  man  who  suffered 
by  lightning,  £2;  and  £7  10  to  Rev.  Ezra  Carpenter,  'a  poor  minister.' 
Judge  Trowbridge  and  Richard  Carey  were  executors  to  Mr.  Alford's  will, 
but  the  latter  only  acted,  taking  advice  of  the  former.  A  letter  of  John 
Locke,  the  celebrated  author  of  the  "  Essay  on  the  Understanding,"  written 
to  John  Alford,  Esq.,  father  of  Col.  Alford,  is  published  in  the  Christian  Dis- 
ciple, for  July,  1818. 


The  following  extracts  from  Sewall's  manuscript  journal,  communicated  to 
me  by  my  kind  friend  Rev.  Samuel  Sewall,  are  too  interesting  to  be  omitted, 
and  are  therefore  introduced,  although  out  of  their  proper  place. 

«  October  13,  1703.  Capt.  Richard  Sprague  is  buried.  Mr.  Russell,  Capt. 
Hayman,  Capt.  Belcher,  Mr.  Leverett,  Capt.  Cary,  Capt.  Fowl,  bearers.  Is 
buried  in  Mr.  Morton's  tomb.  I  was  there.  Most  of  the  scholars,  Joseph  for 
one.     My  gloves  were  too  little.     I  gave  them  him.     Governor  there. 

"1717,  August  20.  Went  to  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  Mary  Hayman,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Anderson.  Her  first  husband's  name  was  Lynde,  by  whom 
she  had  Mrs.  Toft  (Tufts?);  her  second,  Rev.  Thomas  Shepard,  by  whom 
she  had  Mrs.  Smith;  her  third  husband  was  Samuel  Hayman,  Esq.,  whose 
widow  she  was:  died  in  the  sixty-seventh  year  of  her  age.  Was  buried  in 
her  husband's  (Shepard's)  tomb,  which  she  built  for  him  as  I  was  told.  Bearers, 
John  Usher,  Esq.,  Elisha  Hutchinson,  Esq. ;  Samuel  Sewall,  Edward  Brom- 
field,  Esq. ;  Mr.  Leverett,  president,  John  Clark,  Esq.  Has  the  reputation  of 
a  pious  gentlewoman. 

"1725,  Monday,  May  24.  Went  to  Charlestown,  where  I  heard  of  the 
death  of  Madam  Bradstreet.  Tuesday,  May  25.  Went  to  Madam  Brad- 
street's  funeral.  Bearers,  Dr.  Mather,  Mr.  Colman;  Mr.  Nathaniel  Williams, 
Mr.  Peter  Thacher,  of  Boston  ;  Mr.  Appleton,  Mr.  Abbot.  Mr.  Bradstreet 
thanked  me  as  he  went  from  the  grave.  Madam  Russell  shewed  me  great 
curtesie.  I  went  and  sat  in  her  house  before  I  went  to  the  house  of  mourn- 
ing. Mr.  Colman  and  Webb  came  in  and  sat  with  me.  Had  gloves  at  the 
funeral.  Cousin  Wendell  rode  home  with  me  in  my  calash,  being  somewhat 
lame." 


1  2  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.  II.  46. 


CATALOGUE 


ADMISSIONS    TO    FULL    COMMUNION. 


[This  list  embraces  all  the  names  on  record  previous  to  the  settlement  of  Dr.  Morse  in  1789.] 


mo 

day. 

10. 

6. 

10. 

20. 

10. 

27. 

11. 

5. 

12. 

2. 

12. 

9. 

1. 

9. 

1. 

15. 

1. 

2-2. 

1. 

29. 

3. 

25. 

4. 

1. 

4. 

8. 

4. 

29. 

5. 

30. 

6. 

7. 

. 

24. 

31. 

31. 

30. 

12. 

27. 

1. 

10, 

4. 

14. 

6. 

23. 

'6. 

30. 

"9. 

21. 

10. 

6. 

11. 

4. 

11. 

10. 

12. 

4. 

12. 

13. 

12. 

21. 

2. 

3. 

6. 

30 

T 

13 

10. 

5. 

10. 

12. 

11. 

8 

12.  2L 


1632. 
William  Learned  andGoodith  his  wife. 
William  Brakenbury. 
Alice  Molton. 
Anne  Brakenbury. 
Jane  Molton. 
Elias  Alaverick. 

1633. 
Edward  Jones. 

John  Woolrych  and  Sarah  his  wife. 
William  Slilson  and  Elizabeth  his  wife. 
John  Greene  and  Perseverance  his  wife. 
Jonathan  Wade  and  Susanna  his  wife. 
Walter  Pamer  and   Rebeckah    his   wife 

and  Grace  Pamer  their  daughter. 
Daniell  Shepheardson. 
Edward  C^arrinton. 
Richard  Kettell  and  Hester  his  wife. 
George  Whitehand. 
William  Baker. 
Alice  Pembenon,  Doroty  Dade,  Jone  Ba 

ker. 
Edmond  Hubbard,  Jr.,  with  Elizabeth  his 

wife. 
Abraham  Mellows  and  Martha  his  wife 

and   Edward    Mellows   their  son,   and 

Edmond  Hubbard,  Senior. 
James  Tomson  and  Elizabeth  his  wife. 
Beniamine  Hubbard  and  Alice  his  wife. 
Elizabeth  Atwood  and  Mary  Snell. 
Josuah  Hubbard  and  Rebeckah  his  sister 

1634. 
James  Brown  and  Hester  Morris. 
Elizabeth  Blown. 
John  Mowsall  and  his  wife. 
William  Nash  and  Mary  his  wife,  Thomas 

Goble  and   Alice  his  wife,  and  Sarah 

Oakely. 
Jone  Stuttin  and  Anne  Haukes. 
Mr.  Zacharias  Symnies  and  Sarah  his  wife 
Elishua  Crowe,  John  Blacke  and  Susanna 

his  wife. 
William  Bacheller  and  Elizabeth  Peerce 
Thomas  Lynde  and  Maraerite  his  wife. 
William  Johnson  and  Elizabeth  his  wife. 
Thomas  Peerce,  Georg  Buncker,  Eliza 

beth    Russell   and    John    Sybley   with 

Sarah  his  wife. 

1635. 
Alice  Chubbuck  and  Millicent  Sprague, 
Mr.  Peeter  Hubberd. 
Margery  Eames  and  James  Haydon. 
Hanna  Mellows  and  Miles   Bastow,  with 

Marcia  his  wife,  and  Thomas  Brigden 

with  Tomazin  his  wife. 
Sarah  Ewer. 
Elizabeth   Davis,   Mary  Haukins,  Alice 

Rand,  Susanna  Halsteed  and  Thomas 

Ewer. 
Maty  Richegon. 


no.  day.  16  36. 

2.  17.     Robert    Haukins,    Robert    Long,  Georg 

Heipbourn,    Mary    Jeft'reis,    Elizabeth 

Long,  Judith  Bunker. 
4.11.     Thomas  Michell  and  Anne  his  wife. 

11.  8.    Joseph  Kitcherin,  Thomas  Caitar,  Phillip 
Drinker  and  Mary  Gould. 

12.  12.     Winifred  Harrod  and  Alice  Wicks. 

I'J.  27.     Robert  Sedgwick  with  Joanna  Sedgwick. 

1637. 
5.  10.     Hennery  Smith  and  Dorothy  Smith. 

9.  6.    John  Harvard  and  Anna  Harvard  his  wife 

with  Robert  Guttler 
12.  18.     Samuell  and  Thomas  Richesson  and  Abi- 
gail Maverick. 

1638. 

1.  25.    John  Gould,  William  Johnson,  and  John 

Brimsraead  with  Anna  Jones 

2.  6.     Steeven    Fosdick,    Hanna     Heipbourne, 

Elizabeth  Drinker,  Rebeccah  Cutler  and 
Joannah  Haule. 

7.  7.  Isaak  Cole  and  Joanna  Cole,  James  Gar- 
i,et  and  Deborah  Garret,  Katberin  Coyt- 
more,  and  Sarah  Fosdike  with  Marge- 
rite  Lewis. 
11.  8.  Seth  Switzer,  Elizabeth  Taylor  and  Jo- 
anna Laikin. 

1639. 

1.  10.  William  Sargeant,  Josuah  Tydd  and 
Mary  Norton. 

1.  17.     Sarah  Sargeant. 

3.  12.     Thomas  Martin  and  Rebeckah  Trarice. 

4.  3.     Abraham  Hill  with  Martha  Coytmore. 

7.  2.  John  Martin,  Rebeckah  Martin,  Hannah 
Cartar  and  Satah  Lary. 

7.  9.  Sarah  Tydd,  Jone  Richeson,  Bethia  Swit- 
zer and  Mary  Leach. 

7.  16.    John  Penticost  with  Joanna  Penticost. 

7.  23.     Edward   Laikin,   William   Phillips   with 

Mary  Phillips. 

8.  7.     Thomas  Graves,  Kafherin  Graves,  Anna 

Maverick  with  Mary  Eaglesfeild. 
8.  24.     John  Caule,  Mary  Brimsmead. 

10.  8.     Francis     Willoughby     and     Mary     Wil- 

loughby. 

10.  22.     Thomas  Allen  and  Jane  Smith. 

11.  19.     Elizabeth  Felt. 

12.  2.     Mary  Cole,  Joseph  Hill,  Rose  Hill,  and 

Susanna  Seers. 
12.  16.    Thomas  Coytmore  and  Bennitt  Caule. 

1640. 
1.  30.    Thomas  Wilder  and  Edward  Wood. 
3.  24.    Ruth  Wood,  Richard  Robbins,  with  Re- 
beckah Robins. 

3.  31.    John  Baker. 

4.  7.     Sarah  Baker,  Thomas  Gould  and  Hannah 

Gould. 
7.  23.    Augustin  Walker,   John    Palmer,  Anna 
Smith  and  Elizabeth  Hancock. 


248 


1. 


30, 


5.    9, 


10.    4 


day.  16  41. 

28.    John  Seers  and  William  Palmer. 

4.  Lambert  Sutton. 

11.     Wary  Burrage  and  Anna  Walker. 

22.  John   Allen,  Richard  Russell  and  Maud 

Russell. 

30.  Richard  Cook. 

5.  Susanna  Jones. 

31.  John  Weightman,  Elizabeth   Broun   and 

Joanna  Wood. 
15.    Richard  Lowden  and  Sollomon  Phips. 

28.  Anna  James  and  Elizabeth  Savvford. 

1642. 
10.    John  Burrage  and  Fiancis  Norton. 
17.    John  Scott,  John  Green  and  Sarah  Symms. 
15.    John   March,   Gardy  James   and  mother 
Phips. 

29.  Reheckah  March  and  Elizabeth  Chamber 

laine. 

30.  William  Wallis,  Isaak  Wheeler,  Susanna 

Weightman,   Ellenor  Gary,   M.irgeritc 
Hurst,      Surettust      Rous,      Elizabeth 
Greene,  Sarah  Beel,  and  Eedy  Harris. 
1643. 
13.     Eliziheth  Haukins,  Anna  Jaque  and  Eliz- 
abeth Pitts. 

Mathew  C^niith  and  Faithful!  Rous. 

William  Smith. 

William  Greon,  Thomas  Lynde,  Ralph 
Woorey,  Faintnot  Winds,  Ellinor  Mi- 
lior,  Sarah  .\llen,  Satah  Nichols,  and 
Mary  I'artar. 

Abraham  Haukins,  Sarah  Cooke,  Sarah 
Kitcherin,  Peircis  Biiilgos,  Mary  Had- 
Idck,  and  ould  goodvvife  Grover. 

9.  Elizabeth  ('oo|>er,   Margery  Rand,  Mercie 

Rous,  Elizabeth  Harrington  and  Abra- 
ham jaquith 

1644. 

10.  Natbaniell     Hadlocke,    Thomas   Osborn, 

John  Lewis,  Hopestill  Mirick,  Eliza- 
beth Grover,  Elizabeth  Wood  and  Sarah 
Hill. 

1645. 
1.    Francis    Wheeler,    Mary   Shawe,   Alice 
Barnaid,     Katherin     Wafte,     Bridget 
Winds,    Samuel    Carter    and    Mihell 
Smith. 

1646. 

15.     Robert  Chalkley,    Thomas   Cartar,  jun. 

James  Greene,  xMary  Newell  and  John 

Waite. 

7.     Maiy  Gwin. 

1647. 

3.  James  Cary,  Randoll  'NichoUs,  Manes 
Sally,  Edward  Harrington,  James  Pike 
and  John  Gobe. 

I  648. 
Samuel   Haward,  Sarah  Haward,  Esther 
Jenner,  Mary  Sally,  Mary  Symms  and 
Rebeckah  Graves. 
1650. 
Richard  Stower,   Jacob  Green,  Thomas 
Welsh,  John  Tucky,  Maiy  Orton.  Eliz 
abeth  Sheppy  and   llannab  Ludkin. 

7.    Margery  Knight,  Anna  Wilder  and 

Cartar. 

1652. 
Joanna  Davison,   Sarah  Broune,  Joanna 

Stower  and  Roger  Morgan. 
Steeven   Stteeter,  Ursula  Streeter,  John 
Clough,  Jone  Clough,   Thomas  Gould, 
Hanna  Gould,  John   Foul    and    Mary 
Foule,   Lawrence   Dous,    Mary  Cuttin, 
Gualter  Edmonds  and  Dorothy  Edmond 
15.    William  Foster. 
29.     John  Peirce. 

23.  Anne   Foster,   Mary  Gibbs,  Sarah  Smith 
and  Elizabeth  Symms. 

John  Cutler,  Anna  Cutler,  Elizabeth 
Trumble,  Mary  Ridgway  and  Huldah 
Symms. 

Geertruid  Spencer,  Mary  Foidike  and 
Joanna  Long. 


21 


12. 


14. 


27. 


mo.  day.  165  5. 

12.  21.     Mary  Russell  and  Joanna  Greene. 
1656. 

1.  9.     Samuell  Nowell,  Rebeckah  Booth,  Kath- 

erin Roswell,  Mary  Kenipthorn,  Han- 
nah Griffin,  iMaiy  Nash  and  Abigaill 
Stubbs. 
6.  9.  Samuell  Ward,  Francis  Ward,  Jane 
Cloyes,  Elizabeth  Welsh,  Maudline 
Brazier,  Annah  Tynge,  Elizabeth 
Clough,    M.iry    Clough,   Amy   Harris, 

Crouch  and Goodwine. 

1658. 

5.  18.    Mis Bunker  by  a  dismis.  from  chh. 

of  W^ateitown. 

6.  29.     John  Hale,  and  my  Sonne  Zechary  Symms. 
29.     Mr.  Molly  and  his  wife  :  he  by  a  dismis. 

fiom  Braintiee;  she  by  a  dismis  from 
Dorchester. 

29.    Brazier,  William  Crouch  and  Sibil 

Nutt. 

8.  31.     Mr.  Thomas  Shepard  by  a  dismis.  from 

chh.  of  Cambridge. 
1659. 

9.  20.    Roger  Alie  and  his  wife  Jane  Alie ;  by  a 

dismis  from  Weymolh  chh. 
9.  20.     Mrs.  Mary  King. 

1660. 

2.  29.     Abigal,  the  wife  of  John  Longe,  Thomas 

Kami   and   Sarah    his   wife,    Beniamin 

Bufikor, Jennor  the  wile  of  Thomas 

Jennor,  Ruhamah  tlie  wife  of  John 
Knight,  the  wife  of Wilson. 

3.  6.     Katbarin  the  wife  of  John  Philips. 

5.  29.     G.  Piichet,   and  Anne   his   wife  and 

daughter  Templer  by  a  dismis  fiom  the 
ebb.  of  Christ  at  Yarmoth,  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  the  same  day  also,  Mis.  John- 
son by  a  dismis.  from  a  chh.  of  Xt.  in 
Canterbury  in  Old  England  Mr. Zechary 
Biigden  on  the  same  day,  G.  Edward 
Willson,  Goodwife  Maitlia  Lathrop  and 
—  Brigden,  the  wifeof  Thomas  Biigden. 
166  1. 

6.  25.     Goodman  William  Clough. 

12.  23.     Nalhaneel  Huichesun  and  Sarai  his  wife; 
Mary,  the  wife  of  bro.  Edward  VVillson, 
Mrs.  MaryGieen  (the  wife  of  bro.  Jacob 
Green)  and  the  same  day,  Thomas  Os- 
burn  and  his  wife  by  a  letter  of  di.smia- 
sion  from  the  chh.  of  Christ  at  Maiden. 
1662. 
Mr.  Laurence  Hammond,  G.  John  Call  and 
Goodw.  Lydia  Wood. 
1664. 
Hannah  Call  the  wife  of  bro.  John  Call, 
Susanna  Graves  and  Elisabeth  Edmunds 
the  wife  of  Joshua  Edmunds. 
Mr.  John  Chickring  and  Elisabeth  his  wife 
by  a  dismission  from  the  chh.  of  Xt.  at 
Dedham. 
Mrs.  Deborah  Wade  ( Worshipfull  Thomas 
Dudley's  daughter.) 
1665. 
MrThomas  Grave*,  Anne  Taylor  the  wife 
of  Richard  Ta>lor,  and  Ruth  Allin  (a 
widow)  married  afterward  to  Mr.  Knill. 
1666-7. 
Goodman  Abraham  Smith  and  Goodwife 

Hannah  Huiry. 
Mehitabel  Hilton   (Worshipfull  Increase 
Nowel's     daughter),     and     Elizabeth 
Graves  (WorshijifuU  Richard  Russel's 
daughter.) 

1667. 
8.  13.     Abigail  Knight  (.-^isterStower's  daughter), 
Mrs.   Margaret   Willoughby  and   Mrs. 
Abigail  Hammond. 

11.  26.     G.John  Knight. 

12.  23.     G.  Thomas  Lord  by  a  dismission  from  the 

church  of  Christ  at  Ipswich,  G.  Alice 
Lord  bis  wife,  (Sister  Rand's  daughter) 
and  Mary  Winslow.  (Worshipfull  In- 
crease Nowel's  daughter.) 


4. 

29. 

2. 

17. 

9. 

6. 

12. 

5. 

7. 

17 

11. 

6 

12. 

24. 

249 


1668. 
Mar.  29.  G.  Thomas  White,  Mr.  John  Heman,  Mrs. 
Grace  Heman  (his  wife).  Airs.  Martha  March, 
G.   I'etei   Frothingham,   G.   Mary  Fiolhiiiyham 
(his  wife),  and  G.  John  Lowdon. 
Mar  29.  G.  Sarah  Lowdon  (the  wife  of  bro.  John 
Lowdon  abovesaid).  Mis  Alary  Ransford  (Uapt, 
Allen's  daughter),  Mr.  Jonathan  Wade,  G.  Aa- 
thaneel   Rand,   Mr.  James   Russell,   Mrs.  Mabel 
Russell,  his  wife  (Governor  Haines,  his  daughter), 
and  G   Hannah  Perkins,  (our  sister  Mrs.  Lon, 
daughter.) 
Apr.  -.m.  G.   Sarai    Smith,    (Thomas    Smith,   the 
butcher's  wife,)  G.  Anna  Fowl,  (bro.  Carter  ii 
field,  his  daughter,  and  wife  of  John  Fowl,)  Mrs 
Sarah    Lynd,    (Mrs.   Davison's  daughter,)   and 
Elizabeth  Norton. 
June  11.  Oaniel  Edmunds  and  Mary  his  wife,  Mary 
Mousal,  (Thomas  Mousal's  wife,)  Abigail  (Jhad- 
well,  (sometime  T    Jones  the  butcher's  wife,) 
Mrs     Susannah     Goose,     (Abigail    Chadwcll's 
daughter,)   Mrs.    Sarah   Long,    (Ensigne  Tid's 
daughter,)  G.Grace  Sheppy  and  G.John  Knight 
Senior. 
Aug.  9.   G.  John  Founel  and  Mary  Founel  his  wife, 
by  a  dismission  from  the  church  of  Christ  at 
Cambridge. 
Feb.  2."'.  Sarah  Powol  (a  widow),  afterwards  mar- 
ried to  Mr.  Blaney. 

16C8-9. 
Mar.  21.  Elizabeth  Wire  (bro.  Johnson's  daughter) 
wife  of  Edward  Wire. 

1669. 
May  2.'!.  Elizabeth    Balcom,  (Deacon    Haines   of 

Sudburiu's  daughter.) 
Oct.  24.  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  Thatcher,  by  a  letter 

of  dismission  from  the  1st  church  in  Boston. 
Dec  5.    Samuel  Pierce. 

Jan.  30.  Mary  Fowl,  (wife  of  Peter  Fowl,)  Sarai 
Elson,  (daughter  of  our  bro.  Mr.  Heman,)  Eliza- 
beth Roy,  (daughter  of  our  bro.  Phipps.) 
1670. 
Mar.  27.  Nathaneel  Cutler,  Joseph  Frost  and  Mary 

Pierce,  (the  wife  of  .Samuel  Pierce.) 
April  3.   Thomas  Chadwell,  Martha  Smith,  (bro 

Abraham  Smith's  wife.) 
April  3.   Solomon  Pliips,  Jr.,  Mary  Phips  his  wife, 
(the   worshipful  Thomas  Danfortli's    daughter,) 
Samuel    Frothingham,    Ruth    Frothingham    hi 
wife,  Mary   White,   the   wife  of  bro.   Thoma 
White,  Joseph  Kettle,  Hannah  Kettle  his  wife 
and  Samuel  Kettle. 
June  12.  Giles     Fifield,   Mrs.    Prudence   Russell, 
Richard  Asting,  Rachel  Bachelour  and  Abigail 
Asting. 
Aug.  14.  Mr.  Wiliiara  Hilton,  by  a  letter  of  dis 
mission   from    church   of    Christ   in    Newbury; 
Thomas   Hale,   by  a  letter  of  dismission   from 
church  of  Christ  in   Norwaak,  Hannah   Frost. 
the  wife  of  bro.  Joseph  Frost,  and  daughter  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Miller. 
Nov.  20.  Rebeckah  Roe. 
Jan.  22.  .^nne  Hitt,  an  ancient  widdow,  by  a  letter 

of  dismission  from  the  church  in  Maiden. 
Jan.  22.  Nathaneel  Frothingham  and  Mary  Froth- 
ingham his  wife. 

1670-1. 

Mar.  12.  Mr.    Joseph    Lynd,    Mary    Whittamore, 

(deacon  Upham's  daughter,  of  Alalden.) 

167  1. 

Apr.  03.  Mrs.  Mehetabel    Wellsted,   (Mr.  Caryes 

daughter.) 
June  II.  Hannah  Edmunds,  the  wife  of  John  Ed- 
munds. 
Jan     21.      Mrs.    Mary   Marshall,     (Mr.     Hilton's 
daughter,)  Mrs.  Rebeckah  Jones,  (named  Sally 
before  her  marriage  ) 

1672. 
Feb  9.    Samuel  Dowse,  Mrs.  Abigail  Willoughby, 
(Mr.  Nehemiah  W's  wife.) 
167  3. 
April  6.     Elizabeth  Fosket. 

Apr.  13.    John  Kent  and  Hannah  Kent  his  wife,  by 
diimission  from  the  church  of  ChrUt  in  Dedham. 

32 


June   15.    Hannah  Dowse,  the   wife   of  Samue 

Dowse,  (deacon  Ludkin's  daughter.) 
Sept.  28.     Hannah  Sailer. 
Jan.  25.    Dorothe  Hitt,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Hitt. 

1674. 
Nov.    1.     Sarai  Gilbert,  (the  Rev.   Mr.  Thomas 
Gilbert's  widdow,)  by  a  lettei  of  dis.  from  the 
church  of  Christ  in  Topsfield. 
16  7.5. 
.Mar.  21.     Mr.  Joseph  Brown,  by  a  letter  of  dismis. 
from  Salem  church,  Mrs.  Abigail  Davison,  wife 
of  Mr.  Daniel  Davison. 
May  16.     John  Dowse  and  Relief  Dowse  his  wife, 
(her  father  Mr    Holland,  sometime  of  Dorches- 
ter,) Mary   Dowse,   (the   daughter  of  our   bro. 
Serj  int  Dowse.) 
June  27.  Johanna  Larkin,  the  wife  of  John  Larkin 

(formerly  deacon  Hale's  daughter.) 
Aug.  8.     Margaret  Maverick,  the   wife  of  Elias 

Maverick. 
Oct.  3.     Mrs.   Mehetabel    Brown,   (formerly   Mr. 
Brenton's  daughter,  and  the  wife  of  Mr    Joseph 
Brown,)  by  dismissiim  from  the  church  of  Christ 
ill  Taunton. 
Oct.  3.     Elizabeth   Larkin,  the   wife  of  Thomas 
Larkin,  Serjeant  Dowse's  daughter,  Elizabeth 
Cutler,  the  wife  of  Timothy  Cutler,  cous.  Hil- 
ton's daughter,  Anna  Walker,  the  wife  of  John 
Walker,  sister  Miri^k's  daughter. 
Dec.  19.     Rebekah  Moie,  the  wife  of  Enoch  More. 
Jan.  23.     Mr.  Tiiomas  Russell,  G.  Zethariah  Fer- 
ris,  Mrs.   Eunice    Sprague,   the     wife   of    Mr. 
Richard   Sprague,   Mrs.   Elizabeth    Smith,   the 
wife  of  Mr.  Daniel  Smith. 
1676. 
Mar.  12.     G.  Zechariah  .lobnson  and  Elizabeth  his 
wife,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Tuck,  (Lieftenant  Nichols' 
daughter,  and  the  wife  of  Mr.  Thomas  Tuck,) 
Mrs.  Esther  Carter,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Carter, 
by   a   letter  of  dismission  from  the   church   in 
London,  of  which  .Mr  Thomas  Vincent  is  pastor, 
G.  Martha  Goodwin,  the  wife  of  Jno   Goodwin, 
and  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Martha  Lathrop, 
G.  Hannah  Bickner,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Bickner, 
the  daughter  of  our  sister  Bell,  Mrs.  Rebekah 
Allin,  the  daughter  of  Capt.  Allin,  deceased. 
Apr.  16.     Mr.  Daniel  Russell,  son  of  the  worship- 
ful  Richard  Russell,  Sarai   Cole,  the   wife   of 
Jacob  Cole. 
.May  14.     Isaac   Fowl,  John  Goodwin,   Amothia 

Benjamin,  the  wife  of  .\bel  Benjamin. 
June  il.     Mr.  John  Phillips. 
July  9.     Mrs.  Sarai  Howard,  the  wife  of  Nathaniel 

Howard,  Major  Willaid's  daughter. 
Dec.  17.     Mr.  John  Blaney,  G.  James  Miller,  and 
G.  Mary  Johnson,  the  wife  of  Isaac  Johnson. 
1677. 
Mar.  18.     Christopher  Goodwin  and  Mercy  Good- 
win his  wife,  the  daughter  of  our  sister  Crouch. 
Apr.    15.      Mary  Davis,   the   wife   of  Nathaneel 

Davis. 
June  10.  Mrs.  Susanna  Tompson,  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Benjamin  Tompson,  Hannah  Baxter,  the  wife  of 
Jno.  Baxter,  Elizabeth  Vine,  the  wife  of  Wil- 
liam Vine,  Sarai  Counts,  the  wife  of  Edward 
Counts. 
July  1.     Mrs.  Sarai  Goose,  the  wife  of  Mr.  John 

Goose. 
Aug.  5.     Mary  Millar,  the  wife  of  James  Millar,  a 

Scotchman. 
Sept.  2.     G.   Thomas   Sheppard,   Mrs.   Elisabeth 
Knell,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Jno.  Knell,  Sarai  Everton, 
the  wife  of  Willm.  Everton,  the  widdow  Elisa- 
beth Dean,  (bro.  Burrage,  his  daughter.) 
Sept.  23.     Mary  Knight,  the  wife  of  our  bro.  John 
Knight,   Faith    Dowse,  the   wife   of    our    bro. 
Samuel  Dowse,  (her  father  is  deacon  Jewet  of 
Rowley.) 
Oct.  23.  "  Mr.  Isaac  Foster,  the  son  of  Mr.  Willm. 
Foster,    Abigail    Carter,   the    wife   of  Samuel 
Carter,  Anna  Taibol,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Tar- 
bol,  junior. 
Dec.  9.    Mary  Leman,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Leman. 


250 


2.  10. 


1680.  110.    6. 

July  4.  G.  John  Gnppy  and  Elizabeth  Guppy  his  l-2.  6. 
wife,  hy  disnii:«siun  from  tlie  church  of  Clirisl  in  19.  20, 
Weymouth. 

Aug.  15.  iMr.  Samuel  B.illard,  Mary  Eades,  the 
wife  of  John  Eades,  and  Sarai  Chapman,  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Chapman. 

Oct.  17.  Mrs.  Mary  Long,  the  daughter  of  Mr. 
nurr,  minister  of  Don-hester,  and  wife  of  Mr 
ZuchaiiiLJ)  Long,  by  virtue  of  a  letter  of  diamia- 
sion  from  Newhury. 

Dec.  19.  G  .Inc.  Swutt,  by  dismission  from  New- 
bury church. 

Jan.  9.  Allice  Adams,  the  wife  of  G.  Thos.  Adams. 
Maiy  Knight  the  wifn  of  our  bro  Jno.  Knight, 
Saiai  Cliyrch,  the  wife  of  Cornnlius  Chyrch, 
John  Cutler,  junior,  the  son  of  our  Dcii.  Culler 

Jan.  30  Emme  Lynd,  the  wife  of  our  bro  Mr 
Jost-ph  Lynd,  H.innoh  Melvyn,  the  wife  of  Jno 
Melvyn,   Hannah   Miller,  the  wife  of  our  bro, 

^^''l^''  {  Miller. 
James    \ 

1681. 


Sarai  Burnall.  widdow. 

Siirai,  the  wifn  of  .Andrew  Phillips. 
William  Clullerhuck. 
1:2.  27.     Samuel   Penliallow,   Anna,  the   ytiCn   erf 
Benjamin  Phillips. 
1687. 

1.  6.  John  Call,  junior,  and  Martha  his  wife, 
Samuel  Read  and  Elizabeth  his  wife, 
Willi. im  Metcalt; 

Samuel  Lord,  Sarai,  the  wife  of  Patrick 
iMark,  .Mary,  wife  of  Paul  Wilson,  Piia- 
cilla,  wife  of  Thomas  Croswell. 

Mary,  wife  of  Caleb  Carter. 

Nicholas  Morton,  (my  nephew.) 

Timothy  Phillips,  llaunah,  wife  of  George 
Siedman. 

Samuel  Hunting. 

Mary  Hale. 

Thomas  Sheppard,  Jr.,  Elizabeth  Dicker- 
man. 

1688. 

2.  8.     Sarah,  wife  of  John  Carter. 
9.  18.     Eli/aheth,  wife  of  Jonathan  Wade,  Esq. 


3. 

8. 

6. 

21. 

7. 

25. 

8. 

30. 

9. 

20. 

12. 

12. 

March  6.     Susanna  Tarbol   (widdow),   Elisabeth;  11.  13.     Dorcas,  wife  of  Joseph  Pratt. 


Admitted  into  full  communion   by  me   Charle. 

Milt  ton. 
mo.  day  10  86. 

10.  13.     Capt.   Richard  Sprague,  Mrs.  Elisabeth 

Clutterhnck. 

11.  9.    Nathaniel  Dowse. 


3.  II. 

4.  11. 
6.  28. 

10.  14. 


Meade,  thrt  wife  of  Mr.  Nicholas  Meade,  Mary 

Dowse,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Dowse.  |   4.  30 

March  13.  Mr.  John  Long  and  Mr,  Thomas  Jenner  i  12.  23, 
April  3.  G.  Reiijamin  Phillips,  son  of  Dea.  Phillips 

of  Weymouth,   G.  Jacob   llurd,   by  dismission 

from  Boston  1st  ch. 
April  21.     G.  Sarah    Edmister,  the   wife   of , 

by  dismission   fiom   Reading  church,  Susannah 

Dammon,  by  dismi-^sion  fiom  do. 
June  26.     Mr.  Nicholas  Me.ide,  Hannah  Newell, 

the  wife  of  Mr.  Jos.  Newell,  Sarai  Walters,  the;  11 

wife  of  Steven  Walters. 
Sept.  11.  G.  Samuel  Bl.inehard. 
Oct  16.    G.  William  Jimmison,   Hannah   Barret, 

widdow,    Mrs.   Sural    More,   widdow,  and   the 

daughter  of  Mr.  —  Foster,  Sural  Panick,  the 

wife  of  Mr. . 

I  68 1 -2. 
Jan.  29.     G.  Thomas  Rand,  junior,  Grace  Ireland, 

the  wife  of  John  Ireland. 
Feb.  12.     Mrs  Rebeckah  Lynd,  widow. 

1682. 
May  7.    Jonathan  Gary,  Deborah   Chamberlain, 

the  wife  of . 

June  4.     Mrs  Elisabeth  More,  the  wife  of . 

Oct.  15.    Timothy  Pratte. 

Nov.  12    Sarai   VVallers,  the  wife  of   G.  Jacob 

Walters. 
Jan.  14.     Mary  Ryall,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Ryall, 

Hannah  Gary,  the  wife  of  Jonathan  Cary. 
Jan.  28.     Andrew  Stimson  and  Abigail  his  wife. 

1683. 
June  .3.     Susannah  Pike  the  wife  of  Joseph  Pike. 
June  29.  Mrs.  Elisabeth  Whiting,  daui-hter  of  thi; 

Rev.  Mr.  Whiting,  pastor  of  the  ch.  in  Bilhecai. 

1684. 

Mar.  9.     Mr.  Samuel  Phips,  Sarai  Knight,  wife  of 

our  bro.  Jno.  Knight,  by  dismission  from   Boston 

1st  church,  Anna  Huid,  the  wite  of  our  bro.  Ja- 
cob  Ilurd,   Sarai  Rand,  the   wife   of  our   bro. 

Thomas  Rand. 
Mar.  311.    Mrs.   Lydia  Marshall,  the  wife  of  Mr, 

William  Marshall, 
May  18.    Mrs.  Mary  Shepard,  (my  wife.) 
Jan.  4.       Elisabeth  Cary,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Cary 

the  widow. 
Feb.  22.    G.  Jno.   Simpson  and  Abigail  his  wife, 

G.  Jonathan  Simpson  and  Wait  his  wife. 
1685. 
Mar.  22.  G.  Nathaniel  Kettle,  G.  Jonathan  Kettle 
May  3.      Hannah  Kettle,  the  wife  of  our  bro.  Na- 
thaniel Kettle,  Susannah  Logyn,  the  wife  of  G. 

Alexander  Logyn 


1689. 
Mary  Davie,  widdow,  Mercy  Mark. 
Benjamin  Pierpont. 
169U. 
John  George  and  iMary  his  wife. 
A  ary,  wife  of  Edward  Larkin. 
Mrs.  Margaret  Sheppard. 
Mary,  daughter  o)  John  Fowle. 
169  1. 
3.  31.     Abigail,  wife  of  Mr  John  Soley. 

10.     Joseph   Wliittamore,  Roger   Milliard  and 
E.xpcrinnce    his    wife,  Ruth,    wife  of 
William  Evcrton. 
1692. 
1.     6.     Moses  Cleaveland. 

3.  29.    Stephen  Kiddar,  Margaret  Parker,  wid- 
dow, Ilanna,  wife  of  Thomas   Walter, 
Ann,  wife  of  Daniel  Parker,  Ruth  Baker^ 
widdow. 
9.  13.     Margaiet,  daughter  of  Mr.  Joseph  Lynde. 
1  ti  9  4 . 

3.  27.     Judith,  wife  of  Samuel  Ingeraton. 

4.  24.     Elizabeth,  daughter  of  hr.  Samuel  Loud. 

8.  14.  Thomas,  [*on  of]  Solomon  (deceased),  and 
Mary  (widow)  Phips. 

9.  21.     Samuel  Hayman,  Esq. 
11.    6.     Mehitabel,   widow    of    Richard    Austin, 

deceased. 

1695. 
Urith  Nix,  widow. 
Mary  W^ebber,  widow. 
Mary,  wife  of  Matthew  Casewell. 

4.  23.  Maliel,  wife  of  Thomas  ^heppy,  Sara, 
wife  of  Archibald  Macquerry. 

1696. 

5.  12.  John  Mousall,  senior,  George  Ingerston, 
Samuel  Ingerston,  Katharine,  wife  of 
George  Ingerston 

8.  11.    John  Fosdike,  sen'r.  Samuel  Brackenbury. 

10.  31.    Rebecca,  wife  of  Ebenezer  Austin. 
1697. 

Hannah,  wife  of  William  .Austin. 
Mary  Ford,  widdow,  James  Adami,  her 
son-in-law. 
7.  26.     Mathew  March. 


2.  21. 

2.  28. 

3.  19. 


1.  28. 

2.  11. 


9.    6. 


.admitted  to  full  communion  by  me  S.  Bradstreet, 
since  Oct.  26,  1698. 
William  Rand  and  his  wife,  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Whittamore. 
Sarah,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Cloyce. 
Elisabeth,  wife  of  Edward  Walker. 
Hannah  Frost. 
Feb.  26.    Rebekah,  wife  of  William  Fosset. 

1699. 
Mar.  26.   James  Turner,  Mrs.  Cutler,  the  wife  of 

Mr.  John  Cutler. 
April  — .  Jacob  Hurd,  the  wife  of  Robert  Scot. 
May  16.   Mrs.  Lydia,  wife  of  Mr.  Richard  Wait. 


Jan.  1 

Jan.  a 
Jan.  29. 


251 


M»y  21.    Mrs.  Sarali  Newell,  wife  of  Mr.  Joseph 

Newell,  senior. 
.Tune  18.    Hanruih,  wife  of  James  Turner. 
July  It).    Elizuhetii   wife  of  J:uol)  llurd. 
Aug.  6.     Mrs.    K.itliarine,    wife    of    iMr.    Robert 

Knowles,  Mrs.  Ruth,  relict  of  Mr.  John  Row. 
Oct  8.       Abigail  Pierce,  Hniinah,  wife  of  riamuel 

Counts,  the  widow  Sarah  Wheeler. 
Nov.  5.      Mrs.  lilizahelh  Geriners. 
Dec.  24.    Mr.  Nathaniel   Cary  and  Elizabeth   his 

wife. 
Jan.  27.     Hannah,  wife  of  Samuel  Blunt. 
Mar.  17.  Alexaouer  Phillips,  Mrs.  Abigail  Rainer 

1  7  1)  (I  . 
Apr.  21.  Mrs.   Rehekah    ("hamhers,  Mrs.    Sarah 

Foster,  Mrs   Susanna  Chickering. 
Sept.  8.     G.  Abel  Herijamin. 
Feb.  16.    Mr.    Richard   Foster,  Dorothy,  wife  of 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Dows. 
Feb.  23.     Mr.  Jonathan  Dows,  Abigail  wife  of  An- 
drew Miichel. 
March  23.     Joseph  Austin. 

1701. 
Oct.  5.       Mr.  Jacob  Green. 
Nov.  23.  Mary,  wife  of  Mr.  Joseph  Lemmon. 

17  0  2. 
April  19.    Susannah,  wife  of  Alexander  I'Mltchcl. 
May  17.     Mrs.  Parnel,  wife  of  Mr.  Richard  F^ister 
Eept.  6.     Mr.  Abraham  Hill,  senior,  Mrs.  Abigail 

wife  of  Mr.  John  VVatkins 
Nov   39.     Elias  Hrlgden.  John  Dammon. 
Dec.  27.     Relief,  wife  of  Michael  Gill,  .Mary,  wife 

of  Simon  Bradstieet. 

1703. 
April  18.  Sampson  (negroe.) 
June  — .     Mary,  wife  of  Elisha  Doublcday,  Mary 

Call. 
July  11.    Sarah  wife  of  John  Edmunds. 
Sept  — .     Nathaniel  Healon. 
Oct.  3.       The   widow    Hannah   Welsh,   William 

Parkeman. 
Oct.  30.     'J'he  wife  of  Samuel  Griffin. 
Nov.  28.    Robert  Cutler,  Daniel  Badger. 
Dec.  5.      Widdovv  Abigail  Kettle. 

17  03—4. 
Jan.  23.     Anna   wife  of  Nathaniel    Lord,  Sarah 

Frothingham. 

1704. 
May  14.     Katharin   wife  of  John  Tailor,  Abigail 

witi»  of  William  Kettle. 
July  19.     Hannah   wife  of  John   Price,   Elizabetl 

wife  of  Bpnjaniin  Sweetzer. 
Oct — .      Mrs   Rpbeckah  wife  of  Mr.  Isaac  Fowl. 
Feb.  18.     Mercy  Hit. 

17  04—5. 
March  18.     Mr.  Samuel  Frothingham ;  the  wife  of 

John   Dammon. 
April  15.    Susannah   wife  of  Nathaniel   Heaton 

Abigail  Syinpson,  Debi>rali  Sympson. 
1705. 
May  13.    Mary  Story. 

Aug.  5.     Thomas  and  (his  wife)  Elizabeth  Lord. 
Sept.  30.    Mr.     Timothy     Cutler,    Mr.     William 

Kettle. 
Oct.  28.    The  widdow  Susannah  Cook. 
Nov.  y5.    Mr   Eleazer  Phillips. 
Jan  20.     Mr.  Thomas  Crossewell,  John  Frothing 

ham,  Joseph  Kand. 
Feb.  17.     Nathaniel    Frothingham  und    Hannah 

his  wife. 

1706. 
April  14.    Dorothy  wife  of  John  Mousall. 
June  9.     Mr.  Eleazer  Dows  and  Mary  his  wife. 
Sept   1.     Mrs.  Sarah  Sweei7er,  wife  of  .\lr.  Seth 

Sweetzer,  Lucy,  wife  of  Benjamin  I'liillips. 
Sept.  29.  Susannah,  wife  of  John  Frothingham. 
Dec.  22.     Hannah  Welsh 

1711(1-7. 
Jan.  19.     Elizabpth,  wife  of  Jonathan  Sherman. 
Jan.  2R.     Mary,  wife  of  Benj    Kettle. 
Feb.  16.     Sarah   wife  of  John  Waters. 
Mar.  16.    Ruth,  wife  of  Robert  Wire,  Abigail  Gary. 
April  6.    Mr.  Ebenezer  Austin,  Mercy,  wife  of  Mr. 

Stephen  Badger. 


May  11.    Mrs.  Martha,  wife  of  Mr.  Abraham  Hill. 

June  8.      Mercy,  wife  of  Robert  Foskit. 

July  6.      Benjamin  llunl. 

3.     Mrs.  Dorcas  t  bitty,  Katharine  Blaney. 

Aug.  24.   Mrs.  Elcnor,  wife  of  Mr.  Wilhrtin  W'lie. 

Aug.  31.  Mrs.  Joliannah,  relict  of  Mr.  Samuol 
Everton. 

Oct.  26.     Mr.  Jonas  Capen  and  Hannah  his  wife. 

Nov.  23.    Sarah,  wife  of  Joseph  ifaiid. 

Dec.  21.     U  ife  of  William  Sheaf,  Senior. 
1707-8. 

Feb.  15.     Mrs.   Abigail,   wife  of    Mr.   Nicholaus 

Lawrence,  Sarah,  wife  of  Thomas  While,  Jr. 

1708. 

April  11.  Elizabeth  Dammon. 

July  4.       Susannah,  wife  of  Mr.  John  Tucker. 

Sept   2G.    Mr.  Jacob  Waters. 

Nov.  21.    Katburine,  wife  of  Mr.'T  heopliiUis  Ivory, 

Dec.  19.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wade,  E.vperience  Sled- 
man. 

1708-9. 

Jan.  16.     Sarah,  wife  of  Joseph  Mirick. 
1709. 

April  10.  Abigail,  wife  of  Mr.  JamesSJiller. 

July  31.     ."Vnna  Hurd 

Sept.  05.  Ruth,  wife  of  .Mr.  Jonathan  Edmunds, 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Mr.  James  Cupen,  Jr. 

Oct.  23.      Mis.  Dorothy  Trerice. 

Nov.  20.    Margarit,   wife  of  Air.    Robert   Ward, 
Mary,  wife  of  Amos  Story. 
1710. 

,\pr'\\  9.     Sarah  Miiick. 

May  7.  The  widow  Abigail  Hathorn,  Hannah, 
wife  of  Mr.  VAilliam  Patten. 

May  14.     Mr.  Joshua  Blanchard. 

June  18.    Hannah,  wife  of  Mr.  James  Lowden. 

July  9.  Mrs.  Piudence,  wife  of  Mr.  Ebenezef 
Swan.  17  10-11. 

March  11. Mrs.  Abigail  Hutry. 
17  11. 

Aug.  26.    Mr.  Jonathan  Kettle,  Jr. 
17  12. 

April  6      Mr.i  Rebeka,  wife  of  Mr.  Daniel  Russol. 

June  29.    Rachel  Kidder 

17 12^13. 

Jan.  11.    Mary,  wife  of  ;\lr   Ebenezer  Hartshorn. 

Pel).  8.      Giace  Hall,  Anne  Dou'ileday. 

March  8.   Mrs.   Anna,  wife  of  Mr.  Ral|ih  Mousal, 
Mrs.  Hannah,  wile  of  .Mr    Benj.  Andrews,  Mrs. 
Rlary,  wife  of  Mr.  Thomas   Froihingham,  Mrs. 
Anne,  wife  of  Mr.  Josejib  Newel. 
17  13. 

.May  31.  Mr.  Ralph  Mousal  and  his  son,  Ralph 
Vloiisal,  Rebecca  Whiiainore. 

Inne  28.    Margary,  wife  of  Mr    Ebenezer  Putman. 

Aug  23.  ,  wife  of  Mr.  Thomas  Call  ;  Re- 
becca, wifeof  Joseph  (raswelKICIizabeth  Crowch, 
and  her  sister,  Mary  Crowch. 

Aug.  Ml).    ,  the  wife  of  .Mr.  Franci.i  Basset. 

Sept.  20.    Hannah,  wife  of  Mr,  Daniel  Lawrence. 

Oct    18.      Rachel,    wife    of    Mr.    Samuel     Knight. 

.Nov.  15.  Mrs.  Sarah  Foy,  wile  of  Ciipl.  John  Fov. 
Mrs  Abigail,  wife  of  Mr.  John  Rayner,  Jr., 
Sarah,  wife  of  John  Carter. 

Dec.  13.   Sarah,  wife  of  Mr.  .Abraham  Miller. 
17  13-14. 

Jan.  10.    Esther  Nichidls. 

Feb.  7.  Sarah  Wilson,  Johannah  Larkin,  Eliza- 
beth Hurd 

March  7.  Elizabeth  Townsend. 
17  14. 

April  4     Katharine,  wife  of  Mr.  Jonathan  Kettle, 
Mrs.  Ruth    Row,  Jr.,  Mary,  wile  of  iMr.  Samuel 
Whitehead. 
May  2.      Mr.  Joseph  Harris,  Mr  Caleb  Carter. 

May  30.  Mr.  John  Fowie,  Lyilia  Hill,  and  her 
sister,  Elizabeth  Hill. 

June  27.  Mrs.  Hannah,  wife  of  Mr.  Vincent  Car-> 
ter.  Sarah,  wife  of  Mr.  William  Melandy. 

July  25,    Mary  Swan. 

17  14. 

Aug.  23.  M.  Sarah,  wife  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jo.  Ste- 
vens ;  wife  of  Mr.  'J'ho.  Call,  Jr. 

Sept.  19.   Mr.  Samuel  Web. 


252 


Nov.  21.   The  widow   Mary  Phillips;  the  wife  of  March  1.  Ambrose  Coleby. 


Air.  Nathaniel  Webber. 
Dec.  13.   Robert  Ward,  Benjamin  Dows,  Stephen 

Badoer.  .Iunii>rs. 
Dec.  19.    Sarah,  wife  of  Mr.  Joseph  Grant. 
17  14-15. 
Mrs.   Martha,  wifo    of   Mr.     Ephraim 


Jan.  9. 

Breed 
Jan.  16. 
Feb.  6, 


Mrs.  E.sther  Kettel. 
Mary,  wife  of  Mr.  John  Griffin. 
March  6.  Ann,  wife  of  Mr.  Thomas  Chapman. 

17  1  5. 
March  27.Mr.  Richard  Miller. 
April  3.    Dorothy,  wife  of  Mr.  Joseph  Kidder. 
May  8.      Sarah,  wife  of  Jonathan  Kendall, 
ftlay  29.    Mr.  William  Brown. 
June  5.      Miiiy,  wife  of  .Mr.  Richard  Miller. 
Aug.  21.   Mrs.  Elizabeth  I'ierce. 
Sept.  1 1.  Annul)  Mirick. 

Sept.  18.  Jonathan  Pierce,  Edward  T^arkin.Jr. 
Oct.  16.     Mr.  Samuel  Blunt,  Samuel  Kidder. 
Nov.  20.    Mr. 'I'homasCall,  Jr. 
Pec.  1 1.    Mrs   .Mabel  Jenner,  Mr.  John  Rand,  Jr. 
Dec.  18.     Johannah,  wife  of  Mr.  John  Call,  Jr. 

1 7 15-1 fi. 
Jan.  29.    Mrs.   Elizabeth,    wife    of    Mr.    Josepl 

Lemmon. 
March  ll.Mfs.  Troadway. 

17  16. 
May  6.      Mr.  Calvin  Galpin,  Jr. 
Oct.  21.     Nathaniel  Boynton. 
Nov   19.    The  widow  Mrs.  Hannah  Pierce. 
Dec.  9.      Thomas  Wel<h. 
Feb.  3.      The  wife  of  Mr.  Jonathan  Fosdick. 
Feb.  10.     Mrs.  Relief  Rows. 
March3.  Mrs.  Mary,  wife  of  Mr.  John  Fowl. 
March  10. Mrs.   Susannah,  wifu    of    Mr.    Samuel 

Hill,  Jr. 
Mar. 31.    Mr.   James  Lowden,  Sen'r,  Mr.   Josiah 
Treadway. 

1717. 
April  7.    William  Eaton. 
April  28.  Thankful  Wilson. 

May  5.      Mr.    El)ene7.er    Hartshorn,    the    widow 
Elizabeth   Bennet,  Mrs.  Mary,  wife  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Hoppin. 
June  2.     Mr.  John    Call,  Mrs.  Anne   Putt,   wife 

of . 

June  23.    Mr.  Henry  Sommers. 

June  30.    Mr.  John  Teal,  the  widow Hopkins 

Mrs.  Marv,  wife  of  Mr  Samuel  Carey. 
July  7.       Mrs    Abigail,  wife  of  .Mr.  Samuel  Webb 
Au^.  18.   The  wife  of  Mr.  Thomas  Brazier,  Mrs 

Sarah  Cutler. 
Oct.  13.     The  widow  Sheapard. 
Oct  20.     Mrs.   Lydia,  wife  of  Mr.  Eleazar  Phil- 
lips, Alexander  Luvel. 
Dec.  1.5.    Mrs.  Rebecca,  wife  of  Mr.  Charles  Bur- 
roughs. 

1717-18. 
Jan.  .5.      Mr.  Samuel  Carey. 
Jan   12.    Abigail,  wife  of  Mr    Elias  Stone,  Jr. 
Feb.  2.      Capt.   John    Foy,   Mr.    Benjamin     Law- 
rence, Mr.  Philip  Cutler,  Mr.  Samuel   Hill,  Jr., 
Mr.  Thomas  Brazier. 
Feb  9.      Capt.  Charles  Chambers,  Mr.  Timothy 

Goodwin. 
March  2.  Annah  Mousal. 

1718. 
April  6.     Mr.  Caleb  Call. 
June  1.      Hepbzibah  Harris,  wife  of  Mr.  Timothy 

Goodwin. 
July  20.    Mrs  Grace,  wife  of  Mr.  John  Ends. 
Aug.  3.     Mr.  Peter  Fowl. 

Aug.  17.    Elizabeth,  wife  of  Mr.  Jonathan  Call. 
Sept.  14.   Mr.  Hr'nry  Whei  ler,  John  Badger. 
Oct   19.     Mrs.  Hannah    wife  of  Mr.  John  Dymon 
Nov.  9.      The  widow  of  Mr.  Cah'b  Cro.=sewell. 
Dec.  7.      Mr.  F.lia'i  Stone,  Jr.,  Mrs.  Sarah,  wife  of 

Mr.  Maximilian  Dows. 
Dec   14.     Mrs.    Klizabelb,   wife   of   Mr.    Joseph 
Phillips. 

1718-19. 
Feb.  1.     Hannah  Sheiwin. 


April  5.    Mrs.  Hannah,  wifo  of  Mr.  Eben  Breed. 

June  21.   John   Davis,  Jacob  Deny;   wife   of  Mr. 

Timothy  Read.  Jr 
July  -26.    Jabez  Tuttle. 
Aug.  16.   Mr.  Edward  Brazier. 

Oct.  11.  Mrs.  Kuth,  wife  of  Mr.  William  Dady, 
Hannah  Johnson  and  her  sister,  Abigail  John- 
son 

Oct.  18.    Mrs.  Sarah,  wife  of  Mr.  Richard  Randol. 

Dec.  20.  Mrs.  Parnel,  wife  of  Mr.  John  Codman  ; 
wife  of  Mr.  James  Fowl. 

Jan.  31.     Mrs.  Esther,  wife  of  Mr.  James  Kettel. 

Feb.  7.      Wife  of  .Mr.  Stephen  Kidder. 

March  6.  Mrs.  Esther  Hall 
1720. 

March  27  Mrs.  Anne,  wife  of  Mr.  John  Asbury, 
Mr.  Thomas  Symmes,  Mary  Nossiter.  Mary 
Cater. 

Aprils.  Mrs.  Sarah,  wife  of  Mr.  Thomas  Jack- 
son, Mrs.  Hannah  Pierce. 

April  24.  Mrs.  Maigarit,  wife  of  Mr.  James  Sher- 
man 

May  1.      Mrs.  Abigail,  wife  of  Mr.  Edward  Wire. 

May  21.    Abigail  Uussel. 

May  28.    Abigail  Adriams. 

June  19  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Frotbinghani. 

July  17.    Mis.  Luist,  wife   of  Mr.  Robert 

l>uist. 

July  24.    -Mr.  Thomns  Jackson. 

Aug.  21.  Benjamin  Read,  Edward  Eads. 

Sept.  18    Mr  Isaac  Parker. 

Nov.  6.  Rlrs.  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Mr.  Ezekiel 
Clieever. 

1720-21. 

Jan.  1.       Mrs.  Call,  wife  of  Mr.  Caleb  Call. 

Feb.  5.      Mr.  Thomas  Jenner. 
1721. 

April  2.     Martha  Read. 

May  21.    Mrs.  Mary,  wife  of  Mr.  John  Smith. 

May  28.  Mrs.  Abigail  Smith,  daughter  of  Mr. 
William  Smith. 

Aug.  13.   Mis.  Elenor.  wifeof  Mr.  Tho.  IlarriSjSr. 

Aug.  20.  Mrs.  Anne  Foster. 

Sept.  10.    Wifu  of  Mr.  Edward  SheaiT. 

Oct.  1.5.     Mrs.  Eliz  wifo  of  Mr  James  Turner. 

Dec.  31.  Mr.  Michael  Brigdcn,  Mrs.  Mary,  wife 
of  Mr.  Richard  Sutton. 

1721-22. 

Jan.  7.  Mrs.  Margaret,  wife  of  Capt.  John  Foy, 
Mr  Richard  Boylsion  anil  his  wife. 

Feb.  4.      Mr.  Zechaiiah  Chickering. 

Feb.  2.5.    Nathaniel  Lord. 

March  4    The  wife  of  Mr.  Joseph  Austin,  Jr. 

April  1.    Mrs.  Silence  Harris. 

May  27.    Mr.  Samuel  Trumliall,  and  his  wife. 

Aug.  19.  ftlrs.  Abigail,  wife  of  Mr.  Benjamin 
Bunker. 

Nov  H.  Mr.  Joseph  Stimpson,  the  widdow  Mrs 
Elizabeth  Kidder. 

1722-23. 

Jan.  27.     Mrs.  Sarah  Smith. 

Feb.  17.    Mr.  Samuel  Call. 

March  24  .Mrs.  Abigail,  wife  of  Mr.  Samuel  Call. 

May  26.    Mrs.  Abigail,  wife  of  .Mr.  William  Smith. 

June  16.  Mrs  Abigail  Svveetser,  (who  then  was 
baptized  also.) 

July  -Jl.     Mrs.  Eliz.  wife  of  Mr.  John  Stanly. 

Aug.  18.    Mrs.  Anna,  wife  of  Mr.  Richard  Kettel. 

Dec.  8.      Mrs.  Lydia  Stimpson. 
17  2  3-24. 

Feb.  2.  Rev.  D.  Hull  Abbot,  by  letter  diss,  from 
church  of  Tauton  ;  Mr.  Joseph  Frost;  the  wife 
of  Air.  John  Hilton. 

March  2-).  Richard  C^all,  William  Badger,  John 
Webber,  Abigail  Brown. 

March  29  Wife  of  Mr.  Joseph  Frost. 

April  26.   Mrs   Fowl,  widow  of  Air.  Isaac  Fowl. 
June  21.    Samuel  Stevens,  Mrs.  Anne,  wife  of  Mr. 
Jonathan  Uainsilel. 

Aug.  9.  Peter  Eades,  Mrs.  Annah,  wife  of  Mr. 
Benjamin  Bancroft. 


253 


Aug.  16.  Mr.  Thomas  Harris,  Sr.,  Mrs.  Rebecca, 
wife  of  Mr  Joseph  Harris. 

Sept.  ]:i.  The  witluw,  Mrs.  Sarah  Pinson, Thomas 
•Monrow. 

Oct.  4.      Rebecca  Stone. 

Oct.  11.    Mrs  Ksthcr,  willow  of  Capt.  John  Foster 

Nov.  1.      Mr.  Stephen  Badger,  Sr. 

Dec.  6.  Mrs.  Sarah,  wife  of  Mr.  Benjamin 
Wheeler. 

1724-25. 

Jan.  31.    Mrs.  Mary,  wife  of  Mr.  Samuel  Gary. 

June  13.    Mr.  VVilliam  Smith,  Jr. 

July  18.  Mrs  Hannah,  wife  of  Mr.  Josiah  Harris, 
William  Manly. 

Oct.  3.  Mr.  Seth  Sweetser,  Jr.,  Mary  Bradstreet 
(my  only  daughter,  I)  6.) 

Oct.  10.     lianniih  Kettel. 

Nov.  7.  Mm  Alice  Phillips,  widow  of  Mr.  Ben- 
jamin Phi  Hips. 

Nov.  28.   Mrs.  Susannah  Chickering. 

Uec.  5.      Sarah,  daughter  of  Mr.  John  Edmunds. 

Dec.  26.    Mrs.  Maty,  wife  of  Mr.  James  Kettel. 

Jan.  30.     Mr.  Thomas  Harris,  Jr. 
1  7  2  f) . 

March  27.Mrs.  Mary  Hill,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Hall. 

April  24.  Elizabeih  Rand. 

May  15.  Anna  Kidder,  and  her  sister,  Sarah  Kid- 
der. 

June  19.    The  widow  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Mirick. 

July  17.    Mr.  Benjamin  Wheeler. 

Aug.  7.     Daniel  Earis. 

Aug.  14.  Mr.  John  Login,  Mrs.  Mary,  wife  of  Mr. 
Richard  Foster,  Jr. 

Oct.  9.  Mrs.  Martha,  wife  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Symmes,  Mrs.  Kuth,  wife  of  Mr.  John  Webber. 

Oct.  30.     Mary  Pierce  (ancilla  nostra.) 

Dec.  4.  Mrs.  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Mr.  William 
Read. 

Dec.  25.  Mrs.  Huldah  Whitamore,  d.  of  Capt. 
Whitamore. 

1726-27. 

Jan.  29.     Mr.  Richard  Richardson. 

Feb.  19.  Mrs.  Johannah,  widow  of  Mr.  Michael 
Brigden. 

1727. 

March  26  Mrs.  Hephzibah,  wife  of  Mr.  Edward 
Larkin,  Jr. 

April  23.  Mr.  John  Stevens,  Academicus. 

June  18.  Mrs.  Sarah,  wife  of  Mr  Jonathan  Call, 
JMrs.  Elizabeth,  wife  of  .Mr.  Joseph  Frothing- 
ham,  Mrs.  Anne,  wife  of  Mr  Constant  Freeman 

July  16.    Mrs.  Ruth,  wife  of  Mr.  Joseph  Hopkins 

Aug.  6.  Mrs.  Sarah,  wife  of  Dr.  Peter  Calef, 
Abigail  Lord. 

Sept.  10.  The  widow  Hannah  Hurry. 

Oct.  1.       Rebecca  Marston. 

Nov.  26.    Mrs.  Elizabeth  Foster. 

Dec.  3.  Mr.  Jonathan  Rand,  Mrs.  !MiIlicent, 
wife  of   said   Jonathan    Rand,  Rachael    Harris, 

Dec.  24.  Mr.  Thomas  Brigden,  Mr.  Ephraim 
Breed,  Mr.  Jonathan  Edmunds,  Jr,  Mrs.  Elizah 
Eads,  (widow.)  Mrs.  Sarah  Whitamore,  Mis 
Mary,  wife  of  Mr.  William  Pitts,  Mrs.  Elizah, 
wife  of  Mr.  Joseph  Gowen,  Mrs   Anna  Smith. 

Dec.  31.  Mr.  Joseph  Lemmon,  Mr.s.  Katharine, 
wife  of  Mr.  Thomas  Wier,  Mrs.  Winifred,  wife 
of  Mr.  Michael  Brigden,  Abigail,  wife  of  Thoma: 
Maudlin. 

1727-28. 

Jan.  21.  Timothy  Read,  Jr.,  Simon  Bradstreet,  my 
son,  Joseph  Badger,  John  Hurd,  Jonas  Mason 
Mrs.  Sarah,  relict  of  Mr.  Jonathan  Phillips, 
Mrs.  Mary,  wife  of  Mr.  James  Brentnel,  Mrs 
Joanna,  widow  of  Mr.  Samuel  King,  Hannah 
Stone,  Margarit  Mirick 

Jan.  28.  Mrs.  Mary,  wife  of  Mr.  James  Austin 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Stephen  Ford,  the  wife  of  Mr 
Jdhn  Sprague,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Jonathan  llows,Jr 
Mrs.  Saiab,  wife  of  Mr.  Peletiah  V\'ehber,  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Roger  Connanl,  Ruih  Kemplon 

Feb.  18.  The  wife  of  Mr.  John  Kouse.  the  wife  of 
Michael  Benlley,  the  wife  of  John  Hall,  Saral 
Waters,  Abigail  Fiothingham,  Abigail  Kettel, 


Esther  Call,  Mary  Sheaf,  Rebecca  Hurd,  Mar- 
tha Smith. 

Feb.  25.  The  wife  of  .Mr.  Nathaniel  Frothing- 
ham,  Jr..  Mary,  witlow  of  Mr.  Rii-hard  Whita- 
more, the  wife  of  Mr.  James  Hayes,  the  widow 
of  .Mr.  John  Siininins,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Brigden,  Anna  Boylslon,  Rebecca  Burr,  Mary 
Ivory. 

March  l7.Mr.  John  Edmunds,  Jerahmael  Pierce, 
Mrs.  Elizabeih,  wife  of  Mr.  James  Flucker,  the 
wile  of  Mr.  Nathaniel  Lord,  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Robert  Stone,  the  wife  of  Isaac  Aborn,  the 
wile  of  Phillip  Gallishon,  (post  lapsus  confess.) 
.Mary  Brackenbury. 

M.Trch  24  Mr.  John,  son  of  Mr.  Timothy  Phillips, 
Samuel  Hutchison,  Jr.,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Na- 
thaniel Sarlel,  the  wife  of  Edward  Mirick,  the 
wife  of  John  Ireland. 

1728. 

."^pril  14.  The  wife  of  Mr.  Joseph  Whitamore,  Jr., 
the  widow Darling,  Mrs.  Sarah  Oows. 

April  21.  John  Stephens,  Mrs.  Anne,  widow  of 
Mr.  Thomas  Ivory,  Mrs.  Mary  Smith,  .Mehita- 
bel  Payn. 

May  19.  Benjamin  Frothingham,  Jr.,  Lydia  Phil- 
lips. 

June  9.      Mr.  Nathaniel  Sartel. 

Aug.  4.  Mrs.  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Mr.  Nathan 
Webber. 

Aug.  11.    Mary  Badger,  Abigail  Perry. 

Nov.  3.  Mr.  Robert  Ball,  Mr.  Benjamin  Ban- 
croft, Mrs.  Eunice  Treadway. 

Dec.  29.    Mrs.  Dorcas,  wife  of  Mr.  John  Soley. 
1728-29. 

Feb.  16.  Mrs.  Belhiel,  widow  of  Mr.  Henry  Fowl, 
wife  of  Mr.  William  Badger. 

March  23.Anne,  daughter  of  Mr.  Joseph  Newel. 
17  2  9. 

April  13.  Thomas  Hovey,  Abigail  Hurd,  daughter 
of  Mr.  Benjamin  Hurd. 

June  8.      James  Hovey. 

June  16.  Mrs.  Kuih,  wife  of  .Mr.  Samuel  Hutch- 
ison, Jr.,  Mary,  daughter  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Harris,  Jr. 

July  13.    William  Chapman. 

Aug  3.  Mrs.  Ruth  Stimpson,  wife  of  Mr.  John 
Stimpson. 

Aug.  10  Mr.  Samuel  Larkin,  Sarah  Kettel,  Abi- 
gail Rand,  Hannah  Capen,  Susannah  Clark. 

Aug.  31.   Robert  Culler. 

Nov.  23.   Mrs.  Sarah  Dyer. 

1729-30. 

Jan.  18.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wyor,  wife  of  Mr.  Ed- 
ward Wver. 

Jan   23.    Mr.  Richard  Foster,  Jr. 

Feb.  15.  Mrs.  Joanna,  wife  of  Mr.  Thomas  Jen- 
iier,  .Mr.  Stephen  Pierce 

Feb.  22.  Mrs.  Abigail  Phipps,  wife  of  Mr.  Sam- 
uel Phipps,  his  sister,  Mrs.  Mercy  Maxey,  Mary 
Kettel. 

March  i5.Margaret  SheafT. 
1730. 

April  29.  Ruth  Hopkins.  Jr. 

May  10.  Mrs.  Katharine,  wife  of  Mr.  Anthony 
Lane. 

Oct.  4.       Mrs.  Joanna,  widow  of  Mr.  Samuel  Hill. 

Nov.  29.    Mr.  John  Codman 

Dec.  27.    The  wife  of  William  Teal. 
1730-31. 

March  14.Mrs.  Mary,  wife  of  Mr.  Thomas  Huchi- 
Eon. 

1731. 

April  4.     The  widow,  Mrs.  Sarah  Caswel. 

Ajiril  18    Mr.  Caleb  Lampson. 

May  16.  Mrs.  Dorothy  Lampson,  wife  of  Mr. 
Caleb  Lampson. 

Oct.  3.  iMrs  Mary,  wife  of  Mr.  John  Miller,  Mr. 
John  Stimpson. 

Oct.  31.  Mr.  James  Flucker,  Samuel  Frothing- 
ham, Jr  ,  Jidin  Waters,  Zechariah  Symmcs, 
James  Lowden,  Jr. 

Nov.  28,   Mr.  Joseph  Hopkins. 


254 


1732. 

March  IS.Brirtget,  wife  of  Josiah  Wood. 

May  14.    Ml.  J.ihn  Kaiid 

June  4.      Mis.  Kehiirali  Nurse. 

Su|.i.24    Mr.  Riibiirt  Li.isl 

Oct.  29.    The  wife  nf  Joaiali  Whittomore. 

1  T.i2-3\i. 
Feb.  18.    Joanna,  wife  of  Jacob  Windet. 

1  7  :i  3  . 
April  1.    Abigail,  wifo  nf  Edward  Sheaf,  Jr. 
May  1.3.    Mr    Eleazer  rhillips,  Mr.  Samuel  Phipps 

(cleric,)  Jdhn  Fr(ithins;ham,  (Til  Diaco.) 
Aug.  5.     The  widow  Mury  lialeiiian. 
Sept   :10.  The  widow  Mary  Whood. 
Oct.  21.     The  widow  of  Benjamin  Waters. 
Nov.  2,5.    Mary  Miller,  (Filia  Richardi.) 
Feb.  24.    Hannah,  the  wife  of  George  Burrough. 
March  17.Jumes  Miller,  Jr. 

1734. 
April  14.  George  Burrough,  James  Hay,  Jr. 
May  5.      Thomas  Brasier,  Jr.,  William  Kettle. 
June  30.     Khenczer  Rand,  Jr. 
Sept.  I.      David  Wood,  Richard  Rand,  Zechariah 

Davis,  Jr. 
Oct  27.     The  wife  of  Mr.  Samuel  Hutchinson. 
Feb.  16.    Edmond  Rand. 

1735. 
April  13.  E<lw3rd  Goodwin. 
May  II.    Mildred  Davis. 
July  6.      The  wife  of  J(din  Kidder. 
IJcc.  6       Grace,  the  wile  of  Zechariah  Pymmes. 
Jan.  18.     Anna,  the  wife  of  Jonallian  Hill. 
Feb.  15     Hannah  Hill. 
March  14.Tlie  wife  of  Jonathan  Edes. 

17  3  6. 
April  11.  The  widow  Margaret  Gibbs. 
May  9.      Ann  Miller,  Ruth  Siimpson. 
June  6.      Ebenezer    Frothinglmin,    Joseph     Hop 

kins,  Jr ,  Edward  l.arkin,  Jr.,  Caleb  Call,  Jr.. 

the  wife  of  James  Boiililerson.  Hannah  Brazier 
July  4.       Niithaniel,  son  of  Timothy  Goodwin. 
Sept.  26.   Hannah,  wife  of  !»ilas  Ivory. 
Oct.  24.     The   wife  of   Elkanah  Osburne,  Sarah, 

wile  of  John  Wyer 
Nov.  21.    Elizabeth  llurd,  Mary  Pinson. 

1736-37." 
Jan   16      Samuel    Maxev,   Jonathan   Kctfel,   (Fil 

Benj  )  D.ivid  Townsend,  Jr. 
March  iS.Tlie  wife  of  Isaac   Kidder,  the   wife  of 

James  Capon,  Jr. 

1737. 
April  in.  Joseph  Frothingham,  Jr.,  Sarah,  wife  of 

William  Eord. 
May  8.      The  widow   Hannah   Hussing,   Rebecca 

Symmonds 
July  31.    Benjamin  Frothingham,  Nathaniel  Rand 

Nathaniel  Davis. 
Sept.  25    Smnuel  Harris. 
Dec.  18.   Rebecca  Stimpson,  Hannah  Miller. 

17  38. 
Jan.  15.     The  wife  of  Eleazer  VA'yer,   Mary,  thf 

wife  of  Rirhaid  Rand,  Sarah  Frothingham 
Feb   12.    Nathaniel  Hand  and  Mehetable  his  wife, 
April  9.     Mary,  wife  of  John   tftorer,  Judith   Up 

ham. 
July  2.      Barnabas  Davis,  Jr.,  James  Kettell. 
July  30     Samuel  Austin. 
Nov   19.    Anna  Goodwin. 
Dec.  17.    Mabel  Townsend. 
1739. 
Sept.  24.  Rev.  D.  Prentice,  admitted  into  commu- 
nion with  us. 
Nov.  18.    Sarah  Loring. 
Dec.  16.     Edward  V\  hile. 

1740. 
Jan.  13.     Katharine,    wife   of  Samuel   Goodwin 

l.ydea  Boylstone. 
Feb.  10.    Mary  Frothingham. 
April  6.    Sarah,    wife    of   Joseph    Frothingham, 

Abigail  Webb. 
May  4.      David     Town.send,    Shippy    Townsend 

Martha,    wife    of  Shadrack    Ireland,    Abigail 

Fowle. 
Aug.  24.  The  widow  of  Daniel  Manning. 


Sept.  21.  The  widow  of  Thomas  Taylor. 

Oct.  19     Elizabeth  Webb.  Mary  Brazier. 

Nov.  16.  Dorcas,  wife  of  .lohn  1.eppingtnn,Phoebe> 
wile  of  James  'I'nimbal,  the  wile  nf  Jonathan 
Giirdiier,  Rebecca,  wife  of  Thomas  Wood,  Phil- 
lip Atwood  and  his  wife. 

Dee.  14.  Joseph  Sweelser,  Elizabeth  Newell, 
(Vidua,)  Abijah  Wright,  Samuel  Hill  and  Be- 
ihiah.  his  wile,  John  Codman,  Jr  ,  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Whittemore,  3  tius,  Agnis  Smith  and 
Mary  Smith,  sisters. 

1741. 

Jan.  11.  Samuel  Brailslreet,  James  fngolls,  Isaac 
Rand  and  Margaret,  his  wife,  Abraham  Bate- 
man,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  James  Fosdick,  Meheta- 
ble  Whittemore,  Ann  Badger,  Hannah  Mousell, 
Elizaheih  and  Mary,  dauglileis  of  Elea^ar  Phil- 
lips. Mary  Newcimib. 

Feb.  8.  Joseph  Whittemore,  3d,  Isabel  Jefl'ords, 
Rebecca  More,  Meicy  Wolcott,  Mary  Foster, 
Elizabeth  Sevvall,  .^nn  Parker,  Saiah  and  Fran- 
ces, daughiers  of  Jidin  rhilligis,  Jr.,  Elizabeth 
Davis,  daughter  of  Zechariah  Davis,  Esther  Mi- 
nor, Sarah  .Scammon. 

March  &  Daniel  Russel,  Esq.,  Samuel  Burr,  Han- 
nan  Welsh. 

April  5.    Samuel  Sprague,  John  Stephens. 

.May  3.  Thomas  Welsh,  Jr.,  Sarah,  wife  of  Jona- 
than Edmonds. 

May  31.  John  Soley,  Sa.muel  Kettle,  Susannah, 
wife  of  Robert  Screech,  Anna  Syinmes,  Lydea 
Siimpson,  Susannah  Fosdick,  E-ither  Rand. 

June  28  Huldah,  wife  of  Samuel  Edes.  Ann,  wife 
of  John  Lolhrop,  Mrs.  Eliz.ahetli  Cheever,  Ann 
Kettell  (fil  diac  )  Mary  Townsend 

July  26.  William  Jenkins  Abigail  Nicholls,  Su- 
sannah, wife  of  Samuel  Fosdick,  Mehelahle 
Swan,  Grace,  wife  of  Caleb  Tecl,  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  widow  Elizabeth  V\yer,  Susannah 
Logun,  Sarah  Leeman. 

Aug  23.     Robeit  .-^tone,  Sarah  Phillips. 

S'pt.  20.  John  Harris  and  liis  wife,  Daniel  Par- 
ker, Samuel  Austin,  Katharine  Welsh,  Bethiah 
Fowle. 

Oct  18.  Mr  John  Trnmbal,  Mr.  Richard  Russel, 
Phillip  Deveiis.  Sarah  (,'ary. 

iVov.  15.    Isaac  Smith,  David  Cheever. 

Dec.  13.     The  wife  of  Jonathan  Dowse,  Jr. 

Jan  10.  The  widow  Elizabeth  Phipps,  the  wifa 
of  Jiinailnin  V^ood,  Sarah  Rand,  Mary  Daria, 
I'enelopy  Bottrell. 

Feb  7.  Eunice,  the  widow  of  Capt.  Andrew 
Newell,  Richard  Kettle,  Jr.,  Susannah  Fosdick, 
a  widow. 

1  742. 

.May  30.  Samuel  Larkin,  Jr.,  Alice,  wife  of  Ben- 
jamin Kettell.  Rebecca,  wife  of  Thaddeus  Ma- 
son, Eleanor,  wife  of  Isaac  Foster,  Margaret, 
wife  of  Samuel  Cary,  John  Carter  and  his  wife. 

July  25.    Hannah,  wife  of  Jacob  Howard. 

Sept   19.    Mrs.  Rebecca  Austin. 

Nov.  14.  Old  Mrs.  Bodge.  Kaiharine,  wife  of  Mr. 
James  Russell,  the  wife  of  Mr.  David  Newell, 
Hannah,  wife  of  Mr.  Thomas  Brasier,  Jr,  Mrs. 
Hepzibah  Frothingham,  (lilia  diaconi,)  Eliza- 
beth Woodwell. 

Dec.  12.    Susannah,  wife  of  William  Ecathers. 

Feb.  6.      Hannah  Stevens. 
1743. 

May  29.    Elizabeth  Sprague,  fil.  of  John  deceased. 

Aug.  21.  Daniel  Lawrence,  the  widow  Mercy 
Froth inghiim,  Mrs.  A  lice  Lord,  Hannah,  wife  of 
Mr.Seth  Sweetser,  Sarah,  wife  of  Mr.  Samuel 
Bradstreet 

Oct  16  James  Capon,  John  Hancock,  Elizabeth 
Frothingham 

Nov.  13.  Hannah,  wife  of  Jcdrn  Townsend,  Abi- 
gail Stone,  Mary  Blachford 

Feb.  .5.  Mary,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Gorham,  Jo- 
seph Phipps. 

March  4.  The  widow  Elizabeth  Goodwin. 
1744. 

April  29.  Susannah,  wife  of  Charles  White. 


253 


June  24.    The  wife  ofThomai  Williaras,  the  wife 

of  Benjamin  Reed. 
Aug.  19.  Josppli  Atwood. 
Oct.  14.     iMargaiPt,  wife  of  Samuel  Sptn^ue. 
Dec.  9.      M-.iry,  wife  of  Timothy  Trumbul,  Mary 

wife  of  Tiiiiolhy  Au.<tin. 
Jan.  6.      Nathaniel   Frothingham,  Jr.  and  Mary, 
his  wife. 

1  745. 
March  Sl.i'usannah   Hancock,  Fil  of  John,  Eliza- 
beth liamson,  Fil.  of  Nathaniel. 
Sept.  15.     Elizabeth    Carey,   Eunice    Dana,    Su- 
sannah, claugiiter  of  iMiithaniel  Frothingham 
Oct.  in.     Abi:,'ail,  wife  of  John  Asberry. 
Feb.  9.      Rebecca  Sweetser,  a  widow,  Mary,  wife 
of  John  Penny,  Jr. 

1746. 
July  20.    John  Newel,  aged  about  82  yean. 
Aug.  17.  Elizabeth  Plii|ip3. 
Nov.  9.      Edwaril  Mirick. 
Jan.  4.     Joseph  Lewis,  Mercy,  wife  of  John  Haye. 

1747. 
Oct.  11.     Anne,  wife  of  Mr.  William  Barber. 

1748. 
May  22.    Hannah   Calder  (Vidua,)  John  Webber, 

Abigail,  wifn  of  Jiihn  Webber,  Anna  Hurd. 
Sept.  11.  Nicholas  Hopping. 
17  49. 
May  21.     Abigail,  wife  of  John  Parker. 
Oct.  8.       Criscilla  Gardner  (of  Nantucket.) 
Dec.  31.    The  wife  of  Benjamin  Hurd,  Jr 
Jan.  28.     Mohetable,  wife  of  Ebenezer  Marable. 
Feb.  25.    Ruth  Austin,  (Vidua  of  Thomas.) 

I  7  5  II . 
April  21.  Mr.  James  Russell,  Katharine,  wife  of 

John  Larkin. 
May  2  I.    Hannah  Lord. 
Nov.  4.     Joseph  Frothingham,  Jr. 
Dec   2.      Mr.  Richnrd  Cary. 

Feb.  24.    Mary,  wife  of  Mr.  Richard  Boylston.Jr 
March  24.  Mr.  F/d ward  Sheatfe,  Jr.;  the   wife  of 
James  Kettell,  Jr. 

1751. 
April  21.  Rebecca,  wife  of  Mr.  David  Wyer,  Mar- 
tha, wife  of  Mr.  Edward  Goodwin. 
July  14.     Stephen  Badger,  3  tius. 
Aug.  11.  Air.  Samuel  Hendly. 
Oct.  3.      Mr.  Edward  .^heatfe. 

1752. 
April  19.  Alice  Davis, 
Nov.  12.  Sarah  Wheeler. 

1753. 
Jan.  7.      Mary,  wife  of  William  Hopping,  Jr. 
Feb.  4.     Sarah  Parker. 

March  4   Timothy  Austin  and    Lydea,  his  wife, 

Ann,  vidua  of  Benjamin  Mirick,  Abigail,  wife 

of   Samuel   Lord,    Joanna,    wife   of   Anderson 

Adams. 

April  1.     Elizabeth  Johnson,    (fil.  of   Matthew,) 

Ann  Wyer,  (HIk.  of  William.) 
April  29.  Mary,  wife  of  Richard  Russell. 
May  27.    Sarah,   wife     of     Robert    Cally,    Mary 

Parker,  (fil.  of  Isaac  defunct.) 
June  24.   Sarah,  wife  of  Thomas  Austin,  (fil.  of 

Joseph.) 
Aug.  19.    Deborah,  wife  of  Joseph  Frothingham. 
Sept.  16.  Abigail,  wife  of  Charles  White. 
Dec.  9.      Joanna,  wife  of  Samuel  Bodge. 

1754. 
Jan.  6.      Eunice,  wife  of  Abraham  Rand. 
Feb.  3       Elizabeth  Townsend,  (fil   of  David.) 
March  3    Elias  Stone,  Jr.,  John    Welsh,  Joanna, 

wife  of  John  Stanton. 
March  31  John     Wyer,   John    Kidder,     Abraham 
Snow,  .Mercy,  wife  of  Joseph  Frothingham,  Jr. 
April  28.  Elizabeth  Hopping. 
July  21.    Hannah,  wife  of  Ebenezer  Kent,  Jr. 
Aug    18.    Agnis,  wife  of  Isaiah  Edes. 
Sept.  15.  Stephen  Kidder,  (from  Nantucket,)  Jane 

Holmes,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Holmes. 
Oct.  13.    Mr.  Barlholemew  Tiowe. 

1755. 
Jan.  5.      William  Hopping,  Jr.,  Rebecca,  wife  of 
Samuel  Cooant. 


April  27.  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Robert  Husgey. 
July  20.    Sarah    Rand,  Sarah    Souther,    Huldah 

Edes. 
Nov.  9       Abigail  Monk. 

Dec.  7.     The  wife  of  Jonathan   Rand,  Jr.,  Eliza- 
beth Souther,  Anne  Chamberlin. 
1756. 
Jan.  4.       Joseph   Larkin  and  wife,  Mary,  wife  of 
Hammond  Gowen,Joanna,wife  of  Samuel  Swan, 
Susannah,  wife  of  John  Austin,  Jr.,  Alice,  wife 
of  Benjamin  Biasier,  Jr.,  Anna  Rand. 
Feb.  29.    Jemima,   wife  of   Jonathan    Chapman, 

Mary  Edes,  (til    Dan.) 
Apr.  25.    Josiah  Harris  and  big  wife,  Mrs  Parnel 
and  Eliz.  and  Mary  Codman,  Jane  Sewall,  Re- 
becca Mason. 
Aug.  15.    Lydea  Teel. 

ept.  12.   Mary,  wife  of  Mr.  John  While. 
Oct.  10.     Elizabeth,  wife  of  Wilson  Chamberlin, 

Joanna  T.owe,  Mary  Rand. 
Nov.  7.     Lydea,  wife  of  Alexander  Watson. 
Dec.  5.     Elizabeth  Trowe,  Mary  Call. 

1757. 
Jan.  2.      Elizabeth  Salter. 
Jan.  30.    Joanna  Powers,  a  widow. 
Apr.  24.    Heplizibah  Woicott. 
June  19    Ebenezer    King   and   his   wife    Martha, 
Elizabeth    Rand,  (fil.   of  Whaff  (?)   Rand   at 
Boston  ) 
Oct.  9.      John   Austin,  Thomas  and   Anne  Rand, 
Hcphzibah,  wife  of  Samuel  Larkin,  Jr.,  Abigail 
and  Esther  fil    patri  Edea. 
Nov.  6.      Martha  Trows. 

1758. 
Jan.  1.      Nathaniel  Phillips,  Katharine   Whitte- 
more,    Hannah     Rhodes,    daughter    of    Jacob 
Rhodes. 
Jan.  29.     Hannah,  wife  of  Elias  Stone;  Frances 
Webb,  her   sister;    Mildred    Whittemore  ;  my 
daughter  Mary  Abbott 
Feb  26.    Hannah,  wife  of  Mr.   Nathaniel   Rand, 

Samuel  Townsend  and  his  wife. 
Mar.  26.    Mrs  Jane  Flocker. 
Apr.  23.   Mary,wifeof  Ebenezer  Kent,  Jr., Sarah 

Edes. 
May  21.    Mercy,  wife  of  Mr.  Jabez  Whittemore. 
June  18.   Lois,  wife  of  Thomas  Hooper. 

pt.  10.    Mary,  wife  of  John  Osburne. 
Dec.  3.      Mary  Collins. 

Dec.  31.    John     Larkin,    Jr ,     Sarah      Prentice, 
daughter  of  Solomon  P.,  Elizabeth  Hoggins. 
1759. 
Jan.  28.    Zechariah  Larkin,Thomas  Whittemore. 
Feb.  25.     Mildred  Rand. 
Mar.  25.    Samuel  Conant. 
Apr.  22.    Elizabeth,    wife   of   Richard    Phillips, 

Abiel  Smith,  vidua,  Anne  Brazier,  vidua. 
May  20.    The  wife  of  Stephen  Gullishnn,  Rebecca 

Sprague,  Irene  and  Mary  Prentice,  (fil.  Revdi.) 
June  17.   Joseph  Rand,  Mary  .Mirick. 
July  15.    Hannah,  wife  of  Ephraim  Breed,  Mary 
Sweetser. 

1760. 
Jan.  27.    James    Frothingham  and    Abigail   hia 

wife. 
Feb.  24.    Ruth  Kettell. 
Mar.  23.    Abigail  Frothingham. 
Apr  20.    Sarah,  wife  of  William  Conant. 
July  13.    Hannah,  wife  of  John  Cary. 
Nov.  .30.    Elizabei  h,  wife  of  Robert  Cally. 
Dec.  28.    The  wife  of  James  Kenny. 

1761. 
Mar.  23     Mr.  David  .Newell 
Mar.  19.    Phebe,  wife  of  Wm.  Manning,  Jr. 
June  14.    Sarah  Greaves. 
July  12.    Mr.  Joseph  Lynde  and  his  wife. 
Sept.  6.     Sarah,  daughter  ofCapt.  John  Hancock. 
Oct.  4.      Hephzibah  Bradish.daughlet  of  James  B, 
Nov.  1.      Mary,  wife  of  Thomas  Edes. 
Nov.  29.   Sarah  Welsh,  Sarah  Bradish. 

1762. 
May  16.    Anne  Rand. 
Aug.  8.     Sarah,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Kent. 
Oct.  3.      Jonatliaa  Rand. 


256 


Dec.  26.   Sarah,  wife  of  Timothy  Brigden. 

17G3. 
Jan.  23.    Airon  Townsend,   .Mary,  wife  of  Beiij 

Froihingliiim,  Jr.,  Haiinah  Lamsmi,  daughtei 

of  Caleb  Lamson. 
Dec.  25.    Mr.  John  Millfir,  far  advanced  in  years, 

Rebecca,  daughter  of  Thomas  Welsh,  deceased. 
1764. 
Feb.  19     Hannah  Hutchinson. 
Mar.  ii.   Nehemiah  Uand. 
Apr.  15.    Mary  Uavis. 
May  13.    (Constant  Freeman, 
July  8.      Lydea  Green  leaf. 
Aug  5.      John   Ivory  and  wife,  Mary  Brown,  vid. 

the  wife  of  George  Cnldor. 
Sept.  2.     t*usannali  Hutchinson. 
Sept.  30.  Katharine,  wile  of  Mr.  Samuel  tlendloy. 
Oct.  28.     William  Leathers,  Jr.,  and  his  wife. 
Nov.  25.   Benjunin   Goodwin,   Elizabeth,   wife  of 

Thomas  Harding.  Hannah,  wife  of  John  Soley 
Dec.  23.     Thomas  Wood,  Richaid  Boylston,  Eiea- 

zer  Dowse. 

1765. 
Apr.  14.  Sarah  Townsend. 
June  9.      lluth  Hulcliinson. 
1  7tifi. 
Aug.  31.    Hannah,  wife  of  John  Burn.  (!) 
Dec.  21.    Mr.  James  Hay,  (far  advanced  in  years.) 

17  67. 
May  10.    Mary,  wife  of  William  Goodwin. 
June  7.      Wife  of  Joseph  Rand,  Jr. 
Aug.  2.     James  Grazier. 
Sept.  27.  Samuel  Goodwin;  the  wife  of  Thomas 

ishephard. 

17C8. 
Jan.  17.     Hannah,  wife  of  David  Newell,  Jr. 
June  5.      Sarah,  wife  of  Kdward  Goodwin,  Jr. 
Sept.  25.  Thomas  Prentice,  a  student  of  Hollis- 

ton. 


Nov.  20.   Sarah,    the    wife    of    Henry     Phillips 

Sweetser. 
Dec.  18.     Abigail,  the    wife  of   James    Brazier, 
Abigail  Kettell. 

1769. 
Jan.  15.    Williain  and  Joseph  Kettle. 
Mar.  12.    IMary,  wife  of  William  Fosdick, 
Apr.  9.      Katharine,  the  wife  of  John  Kettle. 
Sept.  24.    Mary,  wile  of  Ebon'r  l.iirkin. 
Dec.  17.    Rebecca,  wife  of  Nalh'l  Gurham. 

1770. 
Jan.  14.     William  Wyer. 

1  771. 
Apr.  7.     Sarah  Hopping. 
Nov.  17.    Isaac  Kidder. 

1772. 
May  31.  Benjamin  Hurd,  Jr. 
Aug.  23.    Isaac  Parker. 

^"epl.  20.   Eaton. 

Oct   18.     Joseph  Hurd,  Mary,  wife  of  James  Call, 
Sally  Broadstreet,  Mary  Eaton. 

1773. 
May  2.      Elizabeth  Loppington. 

1774. 
Aug.  22.   Rebecca  Davis. 

Mar.  6.     William  and  Ebenezer  Frothingham. 
Apr.  3.      Isaac  Hurd. 

1779. 
Jan.  — .     Henry  Pliilli|i9  Sweetser. 

1783. 
Juno  22.    Thomas  and  Rebecca  Frothingham. 

1787. 
Since    1786,    Mrs     Elizabeth    Sweetser,   widoye, 
Mrs    Nathaniel    Austin,   Mrs.    Elizabeth    Ed- 
monds, Mr.  J.icob  and  Mrs.  Foster. 
July  8.      Polly  Hopkins,  Francis  Churchill. 
Aug.  12.    Barnabas  Barker,  James  Gardner. 
Nov.  II.    Rebecca  Cordis,  wifu  of  Joseph  Cordis, 
Sarai,  wife  of  Jonathan  Thompson. 


INDEX. 


Abbot,  Rev.  Hull,   125,   131,  136-39,  228; 

noles  45,  46. 
Aberginians,  10,  35,  37. 
Adams,  lion.  J.  Q.,  79;  note  34. 
Admonition    by   IJoston    churches.  111,   12; 

note  39. 
Altbrd  Memoir,  245,  46. 
Allen,  Rev.  Thomas,  46,  50,51 ;  notes  22,  24. 
Arbeila,  10,  165. 
Arbella,  Lady,  14,  16,  17. 
Arianism,  152. 
Arminianism,  127,  28. 
Associate  pastorships,  133,  39. 
Awakening-,  the  Great,  125—130. 

Baptism,  69,  60,  65. 

Baptists,  56—59,  150;  note  25. 

Beecher,  Thomas,  33. 

Bell,  143,  237. 

Benefactors  of  the  church,  158 — 160. 

Blackstone,  Rev.  William,  16;  note  10. 

Block  House,  141. 

Bradstreet,  Rev.  Simon,  111,  113,  114,  116, 

125. 
Bradstreet,  Madam,  246. 
Bradstreet,  Mrs.  Anne,  116—120. 
Brattle,  Madam,  219. 
Bright,  Rev.  Francis,  1 1  ;  note  4, 
Browne,  Rev.  Joseph,  72. 
Bunker  hill  battle,  139—141. 
Burying  hill,  105. 

Catalogue  of  church  members,  247 — 256. 
Charlestown,  11,  18,  20,  21,  38,51,52,  167; 

note  1 1. 
Chapel,  237. 
Chauncy,  Dr.,  134. 
Church,  of  Boston  and  Charlestown,  13,   14, 

15,  18,20;  note  6. 
Church  of  Charlestown,  20— 22,  31—35, 183— 

186. 
Church,  Old  South,  62;  noles  26,  35. 
Church  property,  157,  241. 
Church  and  state,  126,  152. 
Churches,  division  of,  155 — 157;  comparative 

age  of,  186,87. 
Colleagues,  138,  39. 

Colman's  description  of  Stevens,  122—124. 
Confession  of  faith  of  1680.93,  161. 
Congregational  Church,  Second,  151  ;  note  53. 
Congregationalism,  155;  faith  of,  151. 
ConsociatioD,  60,  61. 

33 


Convention  of  Congregational  ministers,  testi- 
mony of,  132. 
Converse,  Edward,  33. 
Cotton,  Kev.  John,  43,  46. 
Council.  Ecclesiastical,  39,  79—82. 
Court,  General,  15. 
Covenant,  13,  184. 

Covenant,  Half-way,  59—65,  127,  152. 
Coytmore,  Catharine,  190. 
Coytmore,  Martha,  176. 
Creeds,  153. 

Davenport,  Rev.  John,  44,  62.  ' 
Davenport,  Rev.  James,  131,  32,  134. 
Deacons,  15,  34,  110;  note  19. 
Defection  from  the  faith,  162—155. 
Devens,  Richard,  159. 
Discipline,  earliest  case  of,  56. 
Disorders  following  the  revival,  132,  33. 
Dudley,  Gov.  Thomas,  13,  14,  19  ;  note  8. 

Earthquake,  128  ;  note  44. 
Edmunds,  Daniel,  63, 
Eliot,  Rev.  John,  19. 
Exchange,  refusal  of,  156. 

Fanaticism,  43,  44,  130—135. 
Fast,  15,  18 

Fay,  Rev.  Warren,  158. 
Frothingham,  Dea.,  note  58. 
Frothingham,  William,  34. 
Frothingham,  Richard,  Jr.,  11. 
Funerals,  early,  67. 

Gager,  Dea,,  15,  16. 

Galleries,  72,  211. 
Gilbert,  Rev.  Thomas,  71,  72. 
Gould,  Thomas,  56 — 59  ;  note  25. 
(iraves,  Thomas,  10,  1 1  ;  note  3. 
Great  House,  11,  15,35,  195. 
Greene,  John,  45,  49,  60. 

Hale,  Robert,  34. 
Harvard,  Rev.  John,  44,  45,  182. 
Harvard  Church,  note  53. 
Harwood,  Henry,  34. 
Higginson,  Rev.  John,  213. 
Hilton,  William,  191,  92. 
Horsey's  letter,  note  37. 
Hunnewell,  James,  243. 
Hutchinson,  Anne,  41. 
llulciiiusoniaus,  42—44. 


258 


Imposition  of  hands,  102. 
Induciioii  of  Mr.  Morton,  101. 
Installations  and  ordinations,  102. 
Itinerants,  131. 

James,   Rev.  Thomas,  20,   34,  33,  39,  40; 

note  21. 
James,  Rev.  Thomas,  of  Long  Island,  41. 
Johnson,  Isaac,  13,  14,  16,  17. 

Larkin,  I)ea.,  160. 
Learned,  William,  45. 
Lecture,  Cliarlestown,  note  41. 
Lemmon,  Mary,  lo'J. 
Lincoln,  Countess  of,  19, 
Lord's  day,  T2.  '■Z3. 
Lord's  supper,  22,  65,  141. 
Lowden,  John,  64. 

Meeting-house,  11,20,72,  115,  116,  142,  158: 

notes  20,  4L»,  55. 
Meeting-house  Mill.  11,  12,  142;  note  48. 
Miller,  Dea  ,  note  58. 
Miller,  Capt.  John,  159. 
Ministers,   15,147,48;  mode  of  calling,  note 

39. 
Mishawum,  11. 
Missions,  Indian,  199. 
Morse,  Rev.  Dr.,  150-158;  notes  52,  54 
Morton,    Rev.  Ciiarles,    99—103,  106—113; 

notes  37,  r38,  40. 
Mousall,  Ralph,  34. 

Nowell,  Increase,  15,  31,  32,  33,  45;  note  17 
Nowell,  Paniel,  104. 
Nowell,  Samuel,  190,  91. 

Oakes,  Rev  Urian,  78  ;  note  33. 

Old  South  Church,  Boston,  G2;  notes  26,  35. 

Ordination,  early,  21. 

Organ,  237. 

Osborn,  Thomas,  56,  57,  58. 

Oxenbridge,  Rev.  John,  66. 

Paine,  Rev.  Joshua,  143—147,  239. 

Palmer,  Ahraham.  33. 

Parish,  143  ;•  note  60. 

I'astor,  office  of,  15. 

Pearce,  Capt.,  13,  18. 

l'eml)erton,  Rev.  Ehenezer,  110. 

Pews,  owners  of,  236. 

Phillips,  Henry,  159. 

Pilgrims,  10-17. 

Platform,  C^ambridge,  47  ;  note  23. 

Prentice,  Kev.  Thomas,  125,  131,138—142; 

notes  43,  47 
Printing,  early,  188. 
I'roperty  of  the  church,  241. 
Psalms,  New  England  version,  note  15. 
Public  worship,  22,  23. 
Puritans,  23—30,  48,49,  52,  68,  IGO— 162; 

note  16. 


Questions  afler  sermon,  44. 

fJecords,  town,  note  5  ;  church,  note  14. 

Keformation,  English,  24. 

Kelations  of  religious  experience,  96. 

Kemoval  to  Boston,  16. 

Revivals,  Ii:8-I30. 

Kichardson,  Ezekiel,  34. 

Rulmg  elder,  15.49. 

Hussell,  Rev.   Daniel,  72,  79,  82;    Richard, 

1.5'J;  James,   114,   159,  223;  Thomas,  143, 

159  ;  family,  note  57. 

Sabba'day  house,  note  30. 

Sacramental  furniture   note  66. 

Sagamore,  John,  10,  37. 

Saltonsiall,  Sir  Kichard,  15. 

Scarcity,  13.  18. 

Seating  meeting-house,  note  30. 

Shepard,   Rev.  Thomas,  of  Cambridge,  55; 

Kev.  Thomas,  2d,  54,  72—78,  208  ;  notes 

31,32,  33,  36;   Rev.  Thomas,  3d,  80— 87, 

93-98,220,246. 
Sickness,  12.  16.  17,35,36. 
Small-pnx,  36,76,  121. 
Sciiiih.  Elizabeth,  159. 
Sprague,   Ralph,  10,  33.  45  ;  Richard,  10,  33, 

159,246;  note  18;  William,  10. 
Stevens,  Abigail,  159. 
Stevens,  Rev.  Joseph.  114, 15,  121—124;  note 

42. 
Sioughton,  Rev.  W.,  68-70,  213. 
.Style,  old  and  new,  note  13. 
Symmes.  Rev.  Zechariah,  38,  39,  45,  66,  70  ; 

note  28. 
Synod   of    1637,   41—44;    of    1648.46—48, 

note     23;   of  1662,  60—62;    of  1679-80, 

89—93. 

Tablet,  148;  note  51. 
Teacher,  office  ot'.  15. 
restimony  to  the  Revival,  133. 
I'hacher.'Rev.  Dr.,  144—147,243. 
Thanksgiving,  II,  18. 
Thatcher.  Kev.  Thomas,  208. 
Toleration,  56  ;  note  31. 

Town  of  Charlestown,  11,  35;    records    of, 
note  5. 

Unitarians,  separation  from,  151,  55,  56. 
Unitarianism,  origin  of,  \ht — 1.55. 
Universalibt  meetuig-house,  150. 

Walford,  Thomas,  10  ;  note  2. 

Wesiminster  confession,  47. 

WhiteHeld,  129. 

U  illoughby,  Francis,  208. 

Wilson,  Rev.  John,  13— 15, 18,20,  62;  note  9  ; 

wife  of,  note  12. 
Winter,  18,  20. 
Winihrop,  Gov.  John,  10,   13,  14,   17;  notes 

1.7. 
Winthrop  church,  note  63, 


CORRIGENDA. 

p.  !1,  1st  line,  for  "Thomas,"  read  Francis. 

P.  77,  last  line,  for  "  fore»/t,"  read  fore«t. 

P.  120,  23ih  line,  for  "  Anna,"  read  Anne. 

P.  182,  2d  line,  for  "  January  9th,"  read  January  19th. 


1  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Richard  Frolhingham,  Jr.  for  a  correction  of  the  statement  made  on 
pag'e  33.  Capt.  Richard  Sprague,  who  died  in  1703,  was  the  nephew  of  Richard  and  the  son 
of  Ralph  Sprague.    See  Frothingham's  History  of  Charlestown,  p.  22. 


